AFC and CIES join forces to create scholarship scheme

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will offer outstanding management candidates from their Member Associations a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at the world-renowned and unique FIFA Master Course thanks to a new scholarship scheme.

As a part of the AFC’s commitment to upskill staff from Asian countries, the AFC has joined forces with the Centre International d’Etude du Sport (CIES) to offer young professionals the chance to study on the FIFA Master International MA in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, which will be spread across three universities in Europe.

Financed through the AFC’s Solidarity Fund, which was announced by the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa at the 28th AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2018, the students will begin their studies in September at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, for a module on the Humanities of Sport.

At the start of the New Year, the class moves to Italy to study Sports Management at Milan’s SDA Bocconi School of Management. Following completion of this module, the class transfer to Switzerland where they are taught Sports Law at the University of Neuchâtel for the final module of the year.

Shaikh Salman said: “The AFC is determined to raise standards in the game across Asia and that includes those who work so tirelessly off the field as well as those who compete on the pitch. Not only does Asia require outstanding players in the future but we also have a duty to deliver top class administrators.”

After their studies are complete on the FIFA Master, the graduates will then be offered a secondment to work at the AFC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a further year so that they can gain practical experience in Asia’s governing Confederation.

The AFC President added: “We are grateful for the partnership with CIES and for the opportunity that the students will have in experiencing not only life in Europe but also mixing with other students from a wide range of backgrounds.”

“This experience and the added bonus of working at the AFC HQ will benefit not only their Member Association but also the AFC - and Asian football in general – in the years and decades ahead. I wish all the candidates the very best of luck.”

The candidates will be chosen by CIES from applications by Asian staff working for an AFC Member Association. CIES Director Professor Denis Oswald said: “The new scholarship scheme that the AFC have generously offered will ensure that more candidates will be able to participate in our programme which is recognised as one of the best in the World. This is excellent news as, sometimes, very good candidates cannot take the course because they are not in a position to fund their participation.”

Picture from left to right: Vincent Schatzmann, CIES General Secretary, Giovanni Malagò, Patron of the 16th edition FIFA Master and President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Namrata Chatterjee, alumni of the 16th edition of the FIFA Master and Prof. Denis Oswald, CIES Director.   

He added: “With over 90% of our 500+ FIFA Master graduates now working in the sports industry, the impact of the programme reaches across all continents and nations. Our alumni are currently working for organisations as diverse as, but not limited to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), UEFA,  AFC,  Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC), NBA, FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC.”

Please note that the deadline to apply for the 20th edition of the course is Friday 11th January 2019, midday (12am) Central European Time.

Please click on this link to access the online application form

Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 by the SportBusiness International global rankings.  

 

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