This article was produced in association with Loughborough University
Loughborough University has a long-established reputation as a hub for nurturing professional sporting talent.
More recently, as part of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the University has established a stunning postgraduate campus at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and is quickly becoming the gold standard in teaching and research in the business of sport.
At Loughborough University London, the Institute for Sport Business offers Master of Science degrees in Sport Business and Innovation, Sport Business and Leadership, Sport Digital and Media Technologies and, from the 2017-18 academic year, a Master of Research in Sport Business.
Professor James Skinner, Director of the University’s Institute for Sport Business and Associate Dean for Enterprise, says that the Institute is ideally located as a base for dynamic sport business professionals and aspiring sport leaders to gain the knowledge and skills they need to operate in the contemporary global industry.
Reputation
“The UK operates one of the most dynamic and progressive sports markets in the world,” he says. “Supporting over 450,000 jobs and generating £20bn (€23bn/$25bn) for the economy over the last five years, there has never been a more important time for individuals to acquire the right knowledge and skills to stay ahead of the game.
“The first programme was the Sport Business and Innovation MSc – a conversion degree, providing graduates from different backgrounds with foundation management skills to enter commercial, government and not-for-profit organisations in sport.
“The Sport Business and Leadership MSc is pertinent considering the integrity issues that have undermined international and national sport governing bodies in recent times. This programme provides fundamental requirements for future leaders in sport.
“Our most recent programme is the Sport Digital and Media Technologies MSc, which enables students to develop a critical understanding of how technology is impacting sport. It also allows them to understand how statistical analysis and data visualisation assist in identifying sport business trends and solutions.” The University’s teaching methods reflect the rapidly-changing nature of the sports industry.
“It is vital to understand the different economic, cultural and social drivers that underpin the expansion and development of sport,” Skinner explains. “Our students learn about the economic, cultural, and social nuances of emerging sport business environments.”
Strong partnerships
The University’s global outlook is not only reflected by the make-up of its students, but its international faculty that comprises renowned sport business academics.
The Institute has strong partnerships with leading sport universities in China, Europe, Australia and the US. It also has partnerships with the likes of Premier League football club Chelsea, the West Ham United Foundation, sport business management consultancy CSM Strategic, Benchmark Sport and GlobalSportsJobs, providing opportunities for internships, access to research projects and an environment to put theory into practice.
Moreover, inspiring Loughborough University alumni and sports industry leaders are often invited to give students unrivalled insights into their experiences.
Looking to the future
The Olympic Park is the perfect location for the UK’s top university for sport to establish a second campus. Loughborough University London sits amongst iconic sporting venues, which continue to host highly prestigious events, such as the Rugby World Cup, Track Cycling World Championships and European Aquatics Championships.
With purpose-built lecture theatres and seminar rooms fitted with state-of-the-art technology, a stunning library and a range of versatile workspaces, the campus provides first-class learning facilities.
“For many years, sport was seen as a closed sector, but given the level of investment coming into sport, you simply cannot have people who are not qualified working within such a complex landscape,” Skinner adds.
“The global sport landscape is seeing new opportunities emerge; for example, the growth and commercialisation of women’s sport. We hope this trend will also encourage women to consider a career in the business of sport.”
Loughborough also has no intention of letting its global reputation in sport slip.
“I think the most impressive thing about Loughborough University is that it could try to live off its past glories and reputation when it comes to sport,” Skinner says.
“However, it’s not doing this. It recognises the need to continue to invest to sustain its reputation in sport, continue to develop the best sport business teaching programmes, produce high-quality sport business research and provide an engaging and challenging learning environment that can produce the sport business leaders of tomorrow.”
MAIN IMAGE: Professor James Skinner, Director of the University’s Institute for Sport Business and Associate Dean for Enterprise