A dozen members of 四虎影视鈥檚 esports program explored the sport鈥檚 global reach during an October聽Global Experiential Learning trip to Ireland. Shenandoah is home to one of the first academic esports programs in the U.S., with undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in esports management as well as varsity-level esports competition teams.聽聽
The students and faculty traveled from Virginia to work Dublin GamerFest, visit Riot Games鈥 Remote Broadcast Center in Dublin, and learn more about esports on both international and regional levels.
Coordinator of Esports and Esports Competition Alyssa Duran said the trip began at , where students from Shenandoah and Belfast Met connected over their interest in esports and hopes to work in the industry post-graduation. 鈥淒uring this visit, the Shenandoah students were able to learn about the professional esports scene in Ireland with an interesting conversation with Co-founder and CEO Steve Daly.鈥澛
The next day, in Dublin, the group visited Riot Games鈥 Remote Broadcast Center, where it received a behind-the-scenes tour of the space and insight into the live production of League of Legends Worlds (as well as a chance to participate in a watch party). 鈥淎fter the tour, students were able to meet one-on-one with these professionals to ask questions and learn about their work,鈥 she said.聽
The students also volunteered for two days at GamerFest Dublin, which is Ireland鈥檚 biggest gaming and esports festival, working in a variety of game centers and getting hands-on experience regarding hosting a major esports event, Duran said. 鈥淭his was a wonderful experience for our students to expand their knowledge of esports in Ireland and connect with others in the space,鈥 she added. 鈥淭hank you to Kate Ely and Adam Field from for helping put this amazing trip together!鈥