KeSPA, Korea University Sejong sign MOU to train esports talent

The Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) and Korea University Sejong signed a memorandum of understanding during the 2026 E-KUS Esports Forum on the university’s Sejong campus. The agreement creates a framework to integrate industry-led, project-based courses into the university’s regular curriculum and to develop esports talent.

Officials at the signing included Kim Cheol-hak, Secretary General of KeSPA, and Kim Sang-ho, chair of Korea University’s Department of International Sport Science. The MOU formalises joint work between the two organisations within the university’s academic programmes.

Under the agreement, KeSPA and the university will design and operate project-based courses aligned with industry needs. Students will complete esports-related projects as part of their coursework and receive instruction from industry professionals. The partners will share personnel networks and facilities, and coordinate on event sponsorship and promotion to provide practical learning and industry exposure.

The MOU also establishes industry-academia programs that link classroom work to career pathways in areas such as event management, team operations, coaching and content creation.

In a translated statement, Kim Cheol-hak called the agreement ‘a meaningful stepping stone for fostering talent and promoting industrial development in the e-sports sector.’ He said KeSPA will support the cultivation of ‘convergent talents equipped with both professional expertise and practical experience, ensuring that creative outcomes derived from the curriculum lead to industrial advancement.’

Officials noted Global Esports Industry Week will take place 18–21 June 2026 in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne, offering additional events and networking opportunities for students and faculty.

The MOU follows recent KeSPA initiatives to expand esports education. About two months earlier KeSPA and game publisher KRAFTON signed a three-year agreement to introduce esports into schools and increase its presence in South Korea’s sports system. In the weeks after that, KeSPA announced a partnership with USA Esports to collaborate on national team selection systems, delegation exchanges and youth and scholastic esports programs.