The University of York is partnering with ESL to create one of the biggest games research labs in the world, with an £18 million ($23 million) investment.
The research lab will look into future innovations in the esports industry, such as AI, human-computer interaction, interactive storytelling, data visualization, game analytics, behavioral psychology, and more.
As part of the collaboration, ESL will hold classes at the University of York, giving students a chance to take part in workshops on esports content. The course being offered is optional for students taking particular degrees in their third year of studies and will launch in autumn 2018.
“We’re incredibly excited to be entering into a partnership with the University of York to help develop fresh new esports talent,” James Dean, Managing Director of ESL UK said in the announcement. “We’ve always been committed to creating opportunities for more people to enter the industry and now, with the help of the University of York, we’re looking forward to being able to help make sure the future is even brighter and better than it is now.”
ESL will also be providing internships to York University students, to provide hands-on experience in industry placements for selected PhD students.
