video gaming commonly known as esports, today goes beyond being just a leisure activity, but a full-fledged industry. It seems to be as it is opening up yet very vast opportunities in education. It is time to look at how it contributes to students by offering scholarships, launching academic programs, and developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and digital literacy.

Scholarships for Gamers
In the past many years ago, scholarships were mainly available for athletes and students with great academics. Now they are also for gamers. Commissioned by colleges and universities, esports scholarships are available for eligible talented gamers. For example, some Scholarships are,

NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports) Scholarship: For students competing in NACE-member colleges and universities.
AES (American Esports Scholarship): For high school seniors and college students pursuing esports-related fields.

Like other conventional sporting disciplines, students stand to benefit from their involvement in esports teams by receiving cash for their education. This is exciting for people who perform marvelously in gaming and might not be considered athletic by most people’s standards.

Academic Programs and Degrees

Esports has birthed innovative programs in colleges and universities. Some universities have started to bring programs in esports management, game design as well as esports coaching. These courses equip the learners with the knowledge they require in the games industry. These can be marketing, event management, psychology, computer science, or another area of interest. This implies that the students who were passionate about gameplaying can now make it a career choice.

Promoting STEM Education
Esports is not just competition in games; it is also competition in everything relating to technology. One of the most widespread strategies of educators is the incorporation of games into the process of learning to attract students’ attention to STEM fields. Students use games to learn many things, and while using this activity, they are forced to solve problems, operate technology, and reason. These are all good skills that are applicable to STEM careers. Well, through the integration of gaming into learning processes, it is possible to ensure that subjects such as Mathematics and science are not boring to learners.

Digital Literacy Through Gaming

Thus, mastering such tools has become a necessity in the context of the current digital environment. Gaming can enhance the learners’ IT skills, which entails the skills in identifying, assessing, and using information through technology. When students play esports, they learn the use of digital platforms, online communication skills, and digital ethics. These are handy skills that are relevant to their future occupations and their everyday existence.

Teambuilding and Developing Communications
Esports is not just about the playing skills of one person but about the combination of different people as well. Teammates have to be able to discuss with each other, come up with proper tactics, and just generally coordinate with one another so as to get a win. These experiences assist student in enhancing their interpersonal communication and team work knowing that these are vital components in any working environment.

Creating Inclusive Communities
It is also important to note that Esports has the ability to unite people through their mutual interests. It generates social groups so that a student who feels isolated due to his/her background can have something in common with others. This is true in education since it fosters feelings of inclusivity and allows all students to embrace themselves and others.

Conclusion
Esports is revolutionizing education in new ways and is going to be a game changer. Here, we descriptively discuss how gaming can complement students’ education in the spheres of scholarships and academic programs, as well as STEM education and digital literacy. In the future, as more emphasis is placed on esports, people will be able to acquire new knowledge and skills in greater abundance. Therefore, the next time you find someone playing a video game, do not be quick to judge as he/she could be practicing his/her future occupation or being financially sponsored through college studies.