Record number of students in Costa Rica

Twenty-seven students started the 6th edition of the FIFA/CIES Programme in sport management organised in cooperation with Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) on 7 March. This is a record number of participants for the Programme in Costa Rica, a source of great satisfaction for CIES and it academic partner.

The students (including 9 women) come from different sporting horizons (football, athletics, karate, physical education, National Olympic Committee). Several already hold managerial positions in sports organisations or are top-level athletes.

“It is very satisfying to see that the diversity and quality of our student profiles are increasing year after year”, rejoiced Carmen Grace Salazar, Director of the Physical Education and Sport School at UCR. “This bodes well for our country, as we need skilled managers at all levels of sport.”

For the second year, UCR is offering the Programme as a mixed curriculum (combining classroom courses and online teaching) in order to open the Programme to all regions of Costa Rica and to the neighbouring countries. Five students from the new intake hail from Nicaragua, Colombia and the United States.

The CIES representative emphasised the excellent work done by UCR over the years: “Through its dynamic approach, its excellent relations with the world of sport and its commitment to innovation, Universidad de Costa Rica has ensured that the FIFA/CIES Programme boasts an excellent reputation way beyond the borders of the country.”

After attending a conference by Maria del Pilar Modroño (Venezuela), a marketing specialist, the students started studying the fundamental principles of management, law, finance, marketing, sponsorship, communication and event management. We wish them great pleasure and success during their academic training which will continue until September.