Intel, NSE and ESL have teamed up to launch FutureGen, a new professional esports leadership programme targeted at UK students.
The development initiative builds on the successful partnership, forged in 2018 between Intel and ESL, to identify the next outstanding esports commentator. This was won by TJ Phillips, who conducted social media interviews at EGX 2018 as well as hosting an esports broadcast dedicated to the competition.
Now Intel and ESL have teamed up with National Student Esports (NSE) to offer the next Intel FutureGen programme, specifically designed to identify esports talent amongst students studying at UK universities. This year’s FutureGen programme promises to be bigger and better, opening up opportunities to more students looking to develop their skills and bolster their career prospects.
Intel FutureGen promises to offer successful applicants ‘invaluable experience with unparalleled access to leading industry figures’. The initiative will complement the student’s degree and is designed to equip them with additional skills for them to get ahead in the world of esports.
In late September, students will be able to apply for one of ten places offered by the Intel FutureGen programme. The process will consist of a written application and a short video that a panel of industry experts will use to whittle the applications down to ten.
“There is an incredible breadth of talent on campuses up and down the country, and we are particularly excited to work on the next FutureGen programme with Intel and NSE to harness and develop these skills.”
Heather Dower, ESL
The FutureGen cohort will have the opportunity for hands-on experiences with development events hosted by NSE and Intel, and finally at an ESL esports event. They are spaced evenly throughout their second term of university, designed specifically to fit around their degree studies.
By the end of May 2020, organisers say the cohort ‘will have greater skills and be further informed about their future career choices, and will also benefit from a unique experience that is not offered anywhere else’.
“There is an incredible breadth of talent on campuses up and down the country, and we are particularly excited to work on the next FutureGen programme with Intel and NSE to harness and develop these skills,” said Heather Dower, ESL’s marketing and communication manager.
Jon Tilbury, executive director of NSE, added: “It is a minority of students that graduate with a clear vision of what they want to be doing five, ten, fifteen years into the future. Through FutureGen, we can help exceptional students explore their future aspirations by bringing industry learnings into direct adjacency with our collective passion: esports!”
The news comes after NSE and ESL announced an initial partnership last month to ‘strengthen the connection’ between UK universities and the wider esports ecosystem.
Applications will be open to all students studying full-time at UK universities, but not restricted to those playing in NSE. Applications will be open from Friday September 27th 2019 and can be made through a dedicated hub on the NSE website at www.nse.gg.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
