Italian esports organisation NOVO Esports has formed a partnership with international education firm EF – Education First, in a move designed to connect competitive gaming with language learning and cultural exchange.
According to statements released by the organisation, the collaboration is intended to provide gamers with resources to develop beyond competitive play, preparing them as individuals “ready to face the world with new skills, experiences, and perspectives.”
EF branding will appear on the official jerseys worn by NOVO Esports’ Brawl Stars and Pokémon VGC (Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch) teams. The two entities will also host joint activities at major Italian gaming and culture events, the Milan Games Week and Comicon.
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Furthermore, EF will have direct involvement in NOVO’s Esports School project, which aims to offer young gamers a pathway to transform their passion into educational and professional opportunities. As part of the agreement, one NOVO talent will be selected for an overseas EF experience.
The deal follows a notable pattern of collaborations from NOVO connected to tourism and travel. The organisation has previously engaged in alliances with Radisson Hotels and the Saudi Tourism Authority. It also collaborated with the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government on a project that involved a custom Fortnite map aimed at promoting the area’s landmarks and culture.
Other NOVO sponsors include Acer Predator (hardware), Mirmex Store (trading card games), and Octopus (fashion, creating jerseys with signature designs).
