World’s First Institution Devoted To Beautiful Game

Tue 14th Jun 2011 | Football Club Management

An institution has been set up dedicated to the study of the football industry.

UCFB, based at Burnley Football Club in Lancashire, will deliver undergraduate degree courses in the operational and business facets of football.

It is a joint venture between Buckinghamshire New University and UCFB College of Football Business (UCFB) and is the first institution of its kind in the world.  The first intake will be accepted in September 2011.

In its first year, the UCFB will deliver three traditional three-year degree courses: BA (Hons) Football Business and Finance, BA (Hons) Football Business and Media, and BA (Hons) Football Business and Marketing.  The degrees are validated and will be awarded by Bucks New University.

Brian Barwick, former chief executive of the Football Association, is to chair the college's Advisory Board.  Other Advisory Board members include lifelong Burnley fan and former Government communications chief Alastair Campbell and Rachel Brown, the Everton and England goalkeeper.

The new institution's directors say its establishment is in response to and recognition of football's status as a global multi-billion pound business, requiring particular administrative, managerial and operational skills.

The courses will be delivered in lecture theatres, seminar rooms and classrooms overlooking the pitch within the stadium at Burnley Football Club following several million pounds of investment in facilities.

Students will also have the opportunity of an internship within the football business and surrounding industries to give experience and exposure to the operational side of the football business.

Courses will be focused on matters purely off the pitch and will be entirely geared towards equipping students with the skills and expertise to work within the football and sports industries.

UCFB will also deliver executive courses for those already working in football, some of which will be designed to support those coming to the end of their playing careers who wish to retrain for a life in football-related administration and operations.

There will also be a research think-tank to make the institution a centre for independent research within the industry.

Philip Wilson, provost and chief executive of the college, said: "The establishment of UCFB is in response to a very clear emerging requirement for increased standards of professionalism, operations and governance within the football world.

"We have established, for the very first time, an institution which is entirely geared towards this multi-billion pound industry and the surrounding business environment, delivering graduates with the skills to walk straight into positions at clubs, governing bodies and surrounding industries.

"Importantly, the content of the courses will also equip students with transferrable skills in areas such as finance and marketing, which will ensure employment flexibility upon graduation."

Professor Chris Kemp, pro vice chancellor at Bucks New University added:

"Bucks New University is delighted to become involved with UCFB to offer brand new university degree courses in the practical and stimulating environment of a live football business, which aim to meet the employment needs of the football industry.

"We have a 15-year track record of offering innovative management courses tailored to specific sports management disciplines and of working with football business partners at local, national and international levels, so we are ideally suited for the role."

People wishing to register an interest in further information about UCFB courses should visit www.ucfb.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RETURN TO LATEST NEWS SECTION

SUBSCRIBE TO THE F.C. BUSINESS RSS FEED

If you have any football business related news stories you’d like to share then please contact us – agourley@fcbusiness.co.uk or ryan@fcbusiness.co.uk

Add to: Google | Yahoo | Live | del.icio | Digg |