The course is co-ordinated by the CIES research institute linked to the University of NeuchC"tel, and is just one of several academic activities initiated by FIFA in its programme of co-operation with the CIES.
The International Masters project combines the expertise of three of Europe’s leading universities in the field – De Montfort University, Leicester (England), SDA Bocconi - Bocconi University Business School, Milan (Italy), and the University of NeuchC"tel, NeuchC"tel (Switzerland) – together with guest professors from a number of other universities and guest speakers including leading figures from some of the world’s most important sporting federations, football clubs and European legal institutes.
“The environment of sport is evolving ever more rapidly in today’s society,” says FIFA General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen. “Sports federations, companies and clubs need managers to provide answers and develop and demonstrate skills far beyond their traditional role. They need to be able to make quick and accurate decisions, be willing to take risks and be able to deal with various new and complex economic, social and legal problems. It’s no longer enough just to have a formal education, you need to have a genuine feeling for the sports market.”
