Yang Xi

( Beijing Business Today): There has been a boom in the popularity of eSports in recent years, so such measures can help schools keep up with the times. However, is this emerging industry strong enough to prop up an academic discipline in college?

More and more eSports personalities are attracting attention as well as money to the scene. In 2015, the domestic eSports industry generated 27 billion yuan ($4 billion) in revenue, according to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. However, for any booming industry, this number is trivial.

The eSports industry in China is at a nascent stage and plagued by messy management and polarized incomes for those involved. Is it necessary to introduce this academic major in such a hurry? Are there well-developed training mechanisms and qualified teachers for these students? If not, this program may end up as a newly invented way to trick students out of their money.