Member Article

Sports stars sign up for Manchester Metropolitan University’s ‘sporting director’ masters course

Sports professionals are being invited to join the ranks of a new generation of sporting directors, super-qualified to lead and develop sports organisations around the world. Manchester Metropolitan University Masters of Sport Directorship (MSD) enters its fourth year in September this year and is currently inviting professional sports people considering a career in sports leadership to enrol on the course.

Big names among past and current cohorts of the course include Steve McClaren and Dietmar Hamann and cricketers Vikram Solanki and Ashley Giles, who was appointed as the sport director of Warwickshire Cricket Club in December. The MSD course has also attracted professionals from grass roots sporting organisations and national governing bodies such as the Scottish Football Association and the Rugby Football League, as well as sports people from the realms of minority sports including archery.

As the world’s only academically validated masters-level sporting directors course, the MSD focuses on sports governance and best practice, and covers sports leadership, innovation and change, alongside personal development and a raft of master classes and extra curricular activities designed to fit sports professionals and business people to meet the growing demand for the relatively new role of sporting director.

“The course is the world’s first fully accredited MSD qualification, and the students emerge from the two-year part-time course among the most qualified individuals in the industry in the governance and management of sporting organisations,” said programme director, Dr Sara Ward of Manchester Metropolitan University.

“The role of sporting director is underdeveloped so far and this course is pioneering in providing well equipped future leaders. As sport becomes ever bigger business, the need for good governance has become increasingly pressing and more and more organisations are looking to recruit individuals with the leadership skills and commercial nous to drive development and success. Our MSD students graduate from the course equipped with the precise skill set required for the role,” added Dr Ward.

With over half of the places on the September 2017 intake already taken, the university is currently inviting further applications from professional sports and business people.

“We have students from law firms, football clubs, sports governing bodies and management companies with interests in a variety of sports. Some are introduced by colleagues and former team mates who have been interested in preparing for life after sport, and some are recommended by employers, whether directly or indirectly linked to sports. Although we have some very high profile applicants in every year, not everyone is a household name, or a former pro, and we want to ensure we see as many well qualified applicants from every aspect of sport for the next intake,” said Professor Julia Clarke, dean and pro-vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Business and Law.

Further details on the course and how to apply are available at www.mmu.ac.uk/master-of-sport-directorship

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Kilmurray .