UEFA DFM football diploma programme under way

A new professional development programme has kicked off this week with the launch of the UEFA Diploma in Football Management (UEFA DFM) – as UEFA reinforces its links with the academic community through the setting up of an initiative that will give various concrete benefits to UEFA, its 53 member national associations and European football.

National associations' middle managers will benefit from the UEFA Diploma in Football Management by getting the chance to enhance their knowledge in key areas in the organisation of football events – for example, volunteer management, stadiums and security, marketing operations and media operations. Participants will not only be able to apply what they learn back at home in their respective associations, but also exchange experience with representatives of other associations – so serving the development of football in Europe as a whole.

This advanced course comprises four online modules plus three face-to-face seminars. Each module addresses an important facet of national football association management and is prepared and run by internationally renowned academic experts. All modules have been developed in close cooperation with UEFA and practitioners in the field to ensure they meet the needs of national association staff.

The UEFA DFM will run over a period of nine months between September and May. The diplomas are issued through the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) at the University of Lausanne. It is the second step in UEFA's three-stage education programme, which starts with the UEFA Certificate in Football Management (UEFA CFM) and builds up to the Executive Master in European Sport Governance (MESGO).

Meanwhile, the second edition of the UEFA Certificate in Football Management began earlier this month. Its programme is linked to UEFA's Knowledge & Information Sharing Scenario (KISS) and aims to help the UEFA member associations reinforce their knowledge and management of sports, particularly football.

The foundation course comprises nine modules, six of which are done from distance – elearning – while the other three involve face-to-face contact. The UEFA CFM spans a nine-month period from September to May. Certificates are awarded through IDHEAP at the University of Lausanne. Every module focuses on one central aspect: the organisation of European and world football, strategic and performance management, operational management, event management, marketing and sponsorship, internal and external communication.

Presidents and general secretaries of national associations can recommend up to two members of staff a year as candidates for both the UEFA CFM and the DFM.