Academe and Esports ignites as one on first ever SummEET

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) led by the university president, deans, and Haribon Esports attended Estudyante Esports' 1st SummEET as an accredited school partner together with different school representatives and students across the Philippines at Rizal Memorial Coliseum, March 2. 

After the recent accreditation of Haribon Esports as a non-academic organization, the university took another step forward toward esports recognition inside PLM. 

"[Esports] it's here, and we the academe would have to embrace it, we have to find ways to embed technology in all aspects of our curriculum," said PLM President Sonny Reyes when asked why he said yes to Estudyante Esports. 

Dark League Studios, through their program Estudyante Esports, aims to unite education and Esports as they bring them together on a summit that empowers and acknowledges the significance of Esports on the academe. 

"The school administrators have acknowledged the potential of esports… it has opened up new career opportunities to pursue as alternatives to traditional jobs," said Bobby Rosales, Chairman and Co-Founder of Dark League Studios. 

The summit promotes responsible gaming, mental well being, and career opportunities for students who aspire to be a professional player with a degree in one. 

"Esports is important since the principles of it are aligned to sports' discipline such as proper communication, responsibility, teamwork... if we want to promote responsible gaming, it should involve and start in the academe," said AC Valdenor, CEO of Dark League Studios. 

Aside from a biannual summit, Estudyante Esports under Dark League Studios will conduct their esports caravan, exhibits, tournaments, seminars, gamer fests, and career talks for students who want to pursue a career in the industry. 

In an ongoing partnership with College of St. Benilde School of Professionals and Continuing Education, a certificate course on esports and digital gaming fundamentals is being developed as one of the program's goals on expansion of certificate courses and electives centered on the esports industry.