Guangzhou Sport University has become the first to list esports management as a new major, pushing the university's total number of undergraduate offerings to 20.

According to a statement released by the university, the new major — which was approved by the Ministry of Education in February — aims to nurture talent to meet growing demand in the field.

Esports has become one of the hottest fields in sports competition in recent years, and market share continues to rise. But the esports industry, which is bringing development opportunities, is also facing a talent gap that has been estimated by insiders at more than 500,000, the statement said.

Students majoring in esports management will be able to serve the development of the industry when they graduate with a four-year degree. 

"The graduates will enjoy broad employment prospects," the statement said.

To establish the new major, the university spent more than 2 million yuan ($307,692) to create a new esports center in 2019. The new center comprises more than 300 square meters of floor space, allowing it to host competitions with more than 100 participants at the same time.

Esports competitions between universities and colleges from Guangdong province and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be organized at the new center in the years to come.