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One of the many key success factors when assessing the quality of degree programmes is the employability rate of its graduates. Since it was first launched in 2000, the FIFA Master International MA in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport has placed great emphasis on career development and support, both during and after the completion of student studies. As a result, the FIFA Master has seen excellent employability rates, with around 90% of its 650 alumni now working directly in the global sport business industry.
This employability success is regularly profiled by the course team in their highly successful, ‘Where are they now?’ interview series. For this, the CIES International Centre for Sports Studies who provide overall coordination for the FIFA Master reach out to graduates in order to ask a set of interview questions ranging from what their current working role involves, which aspects of the course helped them most in their career to what advice would they give to future students on the course. The interviews are then promoted via official LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook accounts. This dedicated marketing campaign has seen audience engagement continue to grow for the course.
James Panter who is the FIFA Master Humanities of Sport Module Coordinator and who came up with the interview series idea said, “The purpose of the interviews is to showcase the incredible variety and quality of career destinations of our graduates. The series is not only important for course recruitment, but it also acts as inspiration for current students on the type of career opportunities which might be open to them on completion of their FIFA Master studies”.
Akhmed Tillaev, a 2022 gradate and currently Competition Rights Delivery Manager at the AFC
One of the key elements of the FIFA Master is that the class are based in three separate countries during their time on the course, with the opening Humanities of Sport module delivered by the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University in Leicester, the Sports Management module held at SDA Bocconi in Milan and then the final Sports Law module based at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. The benefits of this unique multidisciplinary course design are frequently highlighted in the interviews. Akhmed Tillaev is a 2022 graduate from Uzbekistan and is now Competition Rights Delivery Manager at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He previously studied both International Relations and Petroleum Engineering before gaining a place on the course. As he explained, “The FIFA Master programme nurtured an intellectual framework through which I have continued to view sport. For example, connecting the dots between sports history, cultural anthropology, politics and human nature. The course helped me to develop and to improve cultural and emotional intelligence skills which are extremely important assets once you start delving into international sports administration”. This was a theme also highlighted by fellow 2022 graduate, Debola Adebanjo, from Nigeria. Before the course she worked as a journalist for BBC Africa and the World Service, and is now Campaign and Internal Communications Manager at the world football players’ union, FIFPro. She said, “I have found every aspect of the FIFA Master invaluable since graduating. The modules in Leicester, Milan and Neuchâtel gave me knowledge and an accelerated understanding of the global sports industry which made stepping into my next role much smoother”. Italian / Swiss 2005 graduate and now UEFA Head of Club Competitions and Nations League Finals, Tiziano Gaier previously studied Economics. He said, “The knowledge exchange platform and strong foundations that are created by the FIFA Master are extreme. You will have a unique opportunity to engage with a huge variety of backgrounds and cultures - both on the student side but also with the different universities, lecturers and field visits you will experience”.
Another area of strength which the interview series has highlighted is the importance of the FIFA Master Alumni Network - known as the FMA. Time and again this is noted as a significant positive as students build their careers in the industry. 2021 graduate, Zeina Hamarsha, was previously goalkeeper for the Jordanian Women’s National Football Team and had studied Civil Engineering at university in Jordan. She is now FIFA Football Technology Standards Manager. In her interview she explained, “I have to say that the biggest gain from the FIFA Master is the course alumni community. The network is so valuable, and you get to connect with people all around the world who can support you in understanding the industry in their particular region or help with contacting clubs and stadiums that we require in our day-to-day work”.
Zeina Hamarsha, a 2021 graduate and now FIFA Football Technology Standards Manager
Responding to this positive feedback, FMA Executive Director Joao Frigerio said, “The interviews shine a well-deserved spotlight on our alumni, which aligns perfectly with one of the core objectives of the FMA which is to support and celebrate our community. Moreover, the series helps strengthen connections within our own network by introducing alumni to one another”.
Another key success of the interview series has been the ability to showcase the incredible career achievements of its graduates. One recent high-profile example comes from the former Japan Men’s National Football Team Captain and 2002 World Cup player, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. Tsune graduated from the FIFA Master in 2013 and is now President of the Japan Football Association (JFA). As he explained during his interview,
“Thanks to the FIFA Master course, I learnt that when making important decisions, we should always take into account historical, managerial and legal elements. I now always try to keep in mind the importance of having multiple perspectives during the decision-making process. As a player, I thought that I understood football. But as a player, I could see football from this angle only. Thanks to the FIFA Master, I now have a historical perspective and a managerial perspective and a legal perspective”. Another is 2014 graduate, Ratu Tisha Destria from Indonesia. Before the course she studied Mathematics and worked in the football statistics sector. She is now Vice President of the PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia). As she explained, “The aspects of the FIFA Master course which continue to help me in developing the specific nature of Indonesian Football is the in-depth knowledge you acquire while on the course of football as a cultural phenomenon and the various industry regulations needed to manage the global game”.
It should be noted that although the FIFA Master is supported by FIFA, the course covers all sports and not just football. Now ranked the No.1 Postgraduate Sport Management course in Europe twelve times, the broad range of sporting career destinations achieved by FIFA Master graduates has been a key factor in its success and is something which the interview series again highlights. One such example is 2003 graduate, Pierre Ducrey, who is now Olympic Games Operations Director at the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Before enrolling on the FIFA Master Pierre studied International Relations and was a Project Assistant at the United Nations. He said, “Completing the FIFA Master proved to be a key step in my career. It allowed me to meet fantastic individuals who became close friends, meet with key people in the industry and confirmed that this was the career I wanted to pursue. It also allowed me to access internship opportunities which gave me a first chance to acquire the experience which is so often needed to get started in the sports industry”.
Pema Choden Tshering, a 2021 Graduate from Bhutan
All of the ‘Where are they now?’ interviews finish with the question, “What advice would you give to future students on the course? 2022 graduate Yasmine Helmy who is from Egypt and previously studied Technology in Management and completed the CIES International University Network course in Cairo is now Digital Product and Marketing Manager at the Confederation of African Football (CAF). In answering this final question, she said, “My advice to future students is to trust the process and take things step by step. Growth takes time, and every experience will eventually add up. Be patient with yourself, stay focused on your personal development. Stay open-minded. The course exposes you to a variety of sports and experiences, some of which may be unfamiliar. Embrace every opportunity as you might uncover new passions or unexpected paths. Be curious, ask questions, and explore outside your comfort zone”. Bhutan National Women’s Football Team Captain and 2021 course graduate, Pema Choden Tshering, added, “Don’t take the opportunity of being on the FIFA Master for granted. Make the very most of it but also enjoy the places where you are located for study”.
With such excellent advice and fascinating range of interviews, it is no surprise that the series has been such a marketing success.
Learn more about International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) and their FIFA Master Programme here.
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