The heads of the finance module hold a seminar in Trinidad and Tobago

The heads of the finance module, offered to students in the framework of the FIFA/CIES Programme in sport management, held a seminar on 18 and 19 March 2013 in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) under the auspices of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Prof. Clement Sankat, President of the UWI (Saint Augustine campus), welcomed the opportunity to co-organise the first seminar bringing together the officials responsible for one of the modules of FIFA/CIES Programme: "The University of the West Indies is very happy to welcome the 'financial backers' of the FIFA/CIES International University Network and give them the opportunity to discuss course content and to exchange their experiences. This seminar is particularly significant in a today's world, where financial ethics often leaves much to be desired".

In a discussion moderated by Peter Scott (De Montfort University) - author of the finance module - the participants considered topics as diverse as the necessity of delineating a platform for jointly acquired knowledge at all the universities in the network, of elaborating a standard examination concept, of arranging for the exchange of case studies to sensitise students to problems in other countries, and of actively involving those responsible for the finance module in selecting candidates and preparing examinations, etc.

Participants also had the opportunity of listening to an introduction to the financial aspects of football presented by Stefan Szymanski (University of Michigan), as well as a special conference on the topic of sports ethics presented by Surendra Arjoon (UWI), Director of the FIFA/CIES Programme at Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite linguistic barriers, representatives from the network of FIFA/CIES partner universities were also able to establish lasting contacts that will soon be very beneficial for future students taking part in the finance module!

CIES would like to thank UWI for again showing such a great sense of hospitality, the excellent speakers, and of course the participants, whose contrasting opinions contributed to the success of the seminar.