The University of Roehampton in London has announced that it will offer a ‘Women in Esports’ scholarship starting in September 2020.
Set in motion by Roehampton Esports, the university’s esports department, the institution will offer four scholarships to first year students, each worth up to GBP1,500. The programme is designed to increase diversity and inclusion in the esports industry, as well as “inspire the next generation” of female esports professionals.
Apart from the financial incentive, the scholarships will offer accepted students a number of opportunities to fast-track their esports careers. The scope of which includes a dedicated mentorship scheme, as well as connecting them with senior industry professionals.
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Professor Anna Gough-Yates, Provost, University of Roehampton, commented on the scholarship programme in a release: “We are proud to be engaged and at the forefront of developing talent for an exciting and emerging industry like esports. Diversity and inclusion are values held to the highest regard at the University of Roehampton and the scholarship is another example of how we implement this into the experience of students and the extra-curricular activities available to them.”
Roehampton Esports has additionally curated a number of partnerships to operate within the framework of its new esports scholarship. Those organisations include Women in Games, the National University Esports League (NUEL), Cat Collective, Special Effect, and London Esports; the partners are said to enhance scholarship opportunities for recipients with work placements and professional industry training
One activation will see the university collaborate with Women in Games to host weekly women-only esports sessions available to female students, as well as further networking opportunities.
Women in Games CEO Marie-Claire Isaaman added: “Women in Games welcomes the Women in Esports scholarships as a very positive move to encourage further diversity and inclusion in esports. We also welcome the University of Roehampton as one of our first Educational Ambassadors.”
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Both scholarship recipients and students at the University of Roehampton will have access to the Roehampton Esports Arena, a dedicated esports space at the campus. In collaboration with esports performance company G-Science, the university will develop a “healthy gaming” programme focusing on student mental and physical wellbeing.
The deadline to apply for the first round of Women in Esports scholarships is September 1.
As part of the ESI Digital Summit later this month, panelists will discuss esports’ role within the educational market in “Getting Schooled – the evolving relationship between esports and education.” You can learn more here.
Esports Insider says: More and more esports scholarships are popping up in universities around the world each year. It’s great to see, and even better when they are focused on improving conditions of diversity and inclusion in the industry.