Esports organization NAVI announced the launch of an educational program in the field of esports disciplines. The competitive selection from NAVI Visa Academy has already started. Applicants must pass an online selection. Details of the competition and other educational initiatives are in the material below.
Recently, news appeared on the official website of the esports organization NAVI about the competitive selection for forming a new team. According to the official data published on the website, the competitive selection from NAVI Visa Academy allows applicants to submit an electronic application to try their luck and possibly get into the top five finalists. Candidates aged 14 to 17, with English proficiency not lower than B1, who do not have agreements or obligations with other clubs, and who do not have bans related to cheating are eligible for the competition.
All applicants will go through a selection process, based on which 10 semifinalists will be chosen. From them, the top five finalists will be selected to go to Berlin for training.
The Story of "Born to Win"
The esports organization NAVI was founded in 2009 with the goal of forming a professional esports community, not just a team. NAVI has several structural units and a large number of teams. In 2018, NAVI faced a lack of funds to continue development. Investor Maksym Kryppa came to the rescue.
In the same 2018, Maksym Kryppa became the majority owner of the organization and initiated a number of important changes. Later, Maksym Kryppa decided to become the beneficial owner of NAVI. The agreement was concluded on mutually beneficial terms, so it was extended over time. By mutual agreement, NAVI and Maksym Kryppa decided to create an educational platform.
According to the organization, it was thanks to Maksym Kryppa's investments that NAVI Visa Academy was created, whose students have already achieved significant successes in CS:GO and Dota 2. Some are already playing at Tier 1 level.
In 2022, Maksym Kryppa officially secured his status as a beneficial owner. By that time, two modern gaming offices had been fully equipped: in Kyiv and Berlin. It is in these offices that the semifinal selection and training of the top five contest winners will take place.
The Importance of Educational Programs
Esports, or competitive video gaming, has transformed from a niche hobby into a multi-billion-dollar industry over the past few decades, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. This phenomenal growth highlights the need for educational initiatives to develop and support this rapidly growing sector.
One of the key aspects of educational initiatives in esports is the development of professional skills in players. Esports requires a high level of technical training, strategic thinking, teamwork, and psychological resilience. Specialized educational programs, such as courses in game analytics, reflex training, and strategic thinking training, help players reach new heights in their skills.
Esports Education Worldwide
Global esports educational programs can be roughly divided into two groups: government and private initiatives. In the public sector, South Korea is well represented. The country has many specialized academies, such as Seoul Game Academy, which offer courses in various aspects of esports, including game mechanics, strategic thinking, team management, and tournament organization. Many Korean universities, such as Chung-Ang University, include esports in their curricula and even provide scholarships for achievements in this field.
China and the USA are also concerned about the development of esports. China actively invests in the development of esports and its integration into the education system. In 2016, the Ministry of Education of China officially recognized esports as a professional discipline. Many universities, such as Shanghai University of Sport, offer specialized programs in esports covering topics such as esports team management, video game industry marketing, and game design technical aspects.
In the United States, esports has also gained significant recognition. Some universities, such as the University of California, Irvine (UCI), offer extensive programs in esports, including both academic courses and specialized training for players.
Esports Education in Ukraine
Despite the fact that Ukraine, largely thanks to NAVI, has firmly established itself in the history of global esports, there is a clear lack of educational initiatives in the country. But the processes have already started. For example, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts offers training in specialties such as “esports management,” “game design and development.” The National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine trains esports coaches.
Among private schools, Maincast Academy stands out. Founded by one of the leading Ukrainian studios, Maincast, it offers courses and training for future esports athletes and industry professionals. The main directions are “game preparation,” “media and content.”
Interestingly, the esports broadcast studio Maincast is also directly related to Maksym Kryppa. Founded in 2018, the studio also needed investments and became the first asset in the esports industry that Maksym Kryppa invested in. Today, Maksym Kryppa is a shareholder of Maincast. It should be noted that Maksym Kryppa also owns the esports game developer company GSC Game World.
Thus, those who wish to participate in the NAVI Visa Academy gain access to various opportunities related not only to NAVI but also to other assets from Maksym Kryppa's portfolio.
