New esports course launched by industry leader EStars in collaboration with The Open University

Leading educational esports company EStars is teaming up with The Open University (OU) to offer online CPD training for teachers, to enhance their knowledge and expertise in the esports sector.

Esports is now one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, a multi-billion-dollar sector creating countless career pathways in game design, event production, marketing, broadcasting, business and more. Yet most schools do not have teachers with the knowledge to deliver esports programmes or qualifications.

The Open University is combining its international expertise in flexible online learning with EStars – which operates globally and has built a reputation for planning, managing and overseeing all aspects of live esports events and tournaments before identifying a need for formal education and qualifications within this exciting field.

Working closely with EStars, The Open University will build and host a new programme on its OpenLearn Create website, using its expertise in inclusive learning design and delivery to bring the course to a wider audience.

What Is Esports and Where Did It Begin?

The programme is made up of six engaging units, starting with What Is Esports and Where Did It Begin? all the way through to exploring the role of esports in education and how it can be used to develop transferable skills.

While accumulating CPD hours, participants watch videos, read articles and complete quizzes to help them better understand the sector and the opportunities that lie within it for their students.

Completing the course will give educators the confidence, knowledge and credibility to teach esports to prospective learners.

The global esports market size, estimated by Precedence Research, is calculated in US Dollars (USD) at 6.61 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach around USD 48.09 billion by 2034 with a viewing population expected to reach 641 million in 2025 (according to SQ magazine). It’s no surprise that it’s being heralded as one of the fastest-growing entertainment markets in the world.

Careers in the sector include areas such as marketing, public relations, game development, event management and much more.

EStars was founded in 2017 by experienced sports executive, qualified lawyer and award-winning entrepreneur, Mags Byrne. The relationship with the OU was forged when Mags became one of the institution’s entrepreneurs in residence, to support budding business founders, who are part of the OU’s Open Business Creators community.

The company now primarily focuses on addressing the educational challenges faced within esports. Leveraging its extensive experience in all aspects of esports, EStars has developed a unique suite of accredited educational qualifications for students from the age of 10 right through to 18.

Their programmes are designed to equip the next generation of business professionals in the sector. By participating in these qualifications, young people can benefit from the guidance of esports professionals with hands-on experience.

Professor Klaus-Dieter Rossade, Executive Dean of the faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies at OU said: “The OU’s position as a global leader in flexible online learning is perfect for partnering with EStars in this great initiative, to grow skills, knowledge and awareness within the key audience of schoolteachers, where familiarity of this new and fast-growing sector can be a challenge.”

Mags Byrne, CEO of EStars said: “There can be a perception that esports is simply based around playing videos games, but opportunities are so much wider.

“The sector is growing at a rapid rate internationally and all manner of roles and career pathways are out there for talented people – but they need to be supported by schools and the teachers need to understand the industry.  I am delighted with this collaboration with The Open University. Together we have built a first of its kind CPD course in esports which, hosted on OpenLearn Create Platform will ensure a global reach.”  

 Lee Johnson, Head of Partnership Learning, Learner and Discovery Services at the OU, said: “At the OU, we are committed to widening access to learning, and by leveraging both our expertise and the OpenLearn Create platform, we can bring specialist subjects to a global audience quickly and effectively. This new esports CPD course will equip teachers with the insight and confidence they need to understand a rapidly emerging industry and support learners to thrive within it, and we’re delighted to have helped make that happen.”