In the general situation, students will come to class armed with books and stationeries, but this particular class has students come equipped with their mobile phones and power banks.
USUALLY, students will come to class armed with books and stationeries, but this particular class has students come equipped with their mobile phones and power banks.
Instead of obtaining knowledge within the confines of a classroom or within pages of a textbook, these students will be picking up valuable lessons on the digital battlefield, armed with their avatars and gaming skills while engaging in a virtual battle.
This may sound like a class left to its own devices to play video games without a proper lecturer, but this is part of the learning process under the esports extra co-curricular course offered at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT).
Always striving to provide a learning experience that aligns with its Beyond Education philosophy, TAR UMT aims to provide more than just academic knowledge; it also boasts a vibrant and immersive campus environment for students to develop skills and values that may not be obtainable in a traditional classroom. This includes active participation in extra co-curricular courses which are compulsory for all diploma and bachelor’s degree students.
With over 30 courses to choose from such as sports, cultural studies, community service or even volunteerism, students can expect a fulfilling and enriching experience that can help develop and hone their soft skills into indispensable assets.
Esports is the latest addition to the co-curricular course list, and has already gained huge popularity with registrations reaching max capacity in its debut in July 2022. And it is no surprise, as the esports and gaming industry has the uncanny ability to capture the attention of youth across the globe.
Just ask Aaron Shanley, one of the TAR UMT students in the pioneer batch of the esports co-curricular course.
“Esports is a very new trend spearheaded by the younger generation, in a way it can be the future of sports,” said the Diploma in Multimedia Design student.
“I enrolled in this course because I wanted to meet other types of gamers and their reasons for contributing towards gaming.
“I have to say that the programme exceeded my expectations of what an esports course is like because I had a lot of fun with my classmates and instructor during our engaging activities.”
TAR UMT spared no expense in ensuring it has leading experts to impart first-hand knowledge and level up the students so they can live up to the expectations and demands of the industries.
Which is why the esports co-curricular course is led by instructor Andrew ‘Sir_Cloud’ Cheong, a TAR UMT alumnus.
Since 2018, Cheong has worn many hats within the esports ecosystem, from commentator, analyst, team analyst, coach, team owner, mentor, trainer, speaker and columnist writer, making this esports icon the perfect instructor for TAR UMT students who are interested in logging in to the exciting world of esports and gaming.
“This co-curricular course is designed to provide a practical insight on how professional gamers train. I also exposed them to the esports industry as a whole and not just focus on the gaming aspect. This includes how the industry works, the technology, marketing, event, content production and esports broadcasting.
“Esports and gaming is not just about the players, and this course is here to create that awareness. In the process, students are also taught essential skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and sportsmanship – all transferable skills which will be relevant in the working world and not just in esports,” Cheong shared.
“When I found out that Sir_Cloud (Cheong) is the instructor for this course, I was very surprised because he is well known in the Malaysian esports community.
“The tour to a real esports event, mock tournament complete with live broadcast, and guidance from a professional instructor made this a very special experience for me,” said Evon Lee Xin Yee, a Bachelor of Public Relations (Hons) student.
“After experiencing this course, I can say I was glad to choose esports as my extra co-curricular course. It opened my eyes to how esports is not just playing the game alone and does not have gender barriers like traditional sports.”
Thanks to this experience, Lee has made a huge decision to pivot her career goals towards this new industry, beginning with an internship at a local esports organisation.
TAR UMT is a Premier Digital Tech Institution, a recognition conferred by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), making TAR UMT a leading digital tech-focused tertiary institution, possessing a proven track record for producing high-quality and future-proof graduates ready for digital tech-based and high-value careers, such as esports.
n To find out more about TAR UMT’s extra co-curricular courses and programmes offered in 2023, visit them during their 2023 Open Day from May 20 to 21 and May 27 to 28 at TAR UMT KL Campus and/or all TAR UMT branches nationwide. Alternatively, you can find out more about its programmes or apply online at www.tarc.edu.my. Various financial aid and merit scholarships are available for qualified students.
In the general situation, students will come to class armed with books and stationeries, but this particular class has students come equipped with their mobile phones and power banks.
Esports is the latest addition to the co-curricular course list, and has already gained huge popularity with registrations reaching max capacity in its debut in July 2022.
