University teams up with Aston Villa for course

Aston Villa Football Club is teaming up with the University of Warwick to develop a new masters degree programme in management.

The university said the partnership with the Premier League club would "unite world-class education, elite sport, and cutting-edge research".

The partnership will see a new masters of business administration (MBA) and masters of science (MSc) programme for people looking to pursue a career in sports management or the supply chain associated with professional sports.

Prof Andy Lockett, the Dean of Warwick Business School, said: "Together we aim to turn passion for sport into professional career opportunities."

Francesco Calvo, the president of business operations at Aston Villa, added: "We hope to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders within the game."

The deal is not the first of its kind in the UK, other universities, including Manchester Metropolitan, the University of Greenwich and Georgetown University in the United States, all have partnership deals with British football clubs to deliver education programmes in sports management and business.

The University of Warwick said the collaboration would build on its existing reputation as a leader in research.

"Working together, we are combining Warwick's outstanding research and teaching with Aston Villa's sporting prowess to open new opportunities for students, athletes, and our wider community," said Lockett.

Both Aston Villa and the university will spend the coming months working out the curriculum, what development opportunities they can offer students and ways the programme can support local communities in both Warwickshire and Birmingham.

"Aston Villa has always been more than a football club, we are part of the Midlands community and a club with the ambition of having an impact at every level," said Calvo.

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