Back to school with the UEFA Academy
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
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Professionals across the world are taking their careers in football to the next level thanks to UEFA Academy courses. Whether in management, communications, legal or medical fields, there’s a game-related learning opportunity for everyone.
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To perform well on the pitch, teams require talented and well-trained players. Off the pitch, football organisations are no different: they need skilled and proficient employees and leaders. For this reason, the UEFA Academy offers a wide range of education programmes for the continuous development of professionals within the game .
Held at UEFA HQ and some of the most iconic football venues in Europe and beyond, UEFA Academy programmes take students to the heart of sport. Thanks to partnerships with leading academic institutions, UEFA Academy graduates can earn a university diploma that is recognised internationally through the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The UEFA Academy provides a diverse range of 20+ learning opportunities with certain courses and resources available free of charge to everyone, such as the UEFA Financial Management Training, UEFA Academy Online and UEFA For Players.
Below, discover a selection of programmes tailored to your professional objectives and hear testimonials from former participants.
Open to everyone working in or connected to the football industry, the UEFA CFM is an essential foundation programme for anyone wanting to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the game is managed.
Natalie Barlow, Marketing & Commercial, LaLiga SA
“The UEFA CFM has been instrumental in the development of my work and myself as an individual. I have learnt so many fundamentals through the programme and have a better understanding of strategic and operational management within the football industry.”
Who: People working in or connected to the football industry
Where: 10 online modules 1st and 3rd seminars in Nyon (UEFA HQ) 2nd seminar in London
How long: 9 months
Download the full brochureThe UEFA DFLM is an advanced programme enabling high-performing managers in charge of teams that deliver complex projects to further develop their football leadership and managerial skills.
“The DFLM course was an exceptional experience that surpassed all my expectations. Its focus on practical football issues in a work environment and the expertise of the speakers made it truly enriching. I’m confident the knowledge gained, along with the valuable emphasis on leadership skills, will have a significant impact on my approach to football management”
Who: Managers in leading positions in sports organisations
Where: Switzerland
How long: 10 months
Download the full brochureMESGO is a highly acclaimed, exclusive programme for sports industry leaders who are looking to strengthen their strategic thinking in the evolving world of global sports governance, and who are keen to access a unique network of influential business experts.
Razvan Burleanu President, Romanian Football Federation FIFA Council member
“MESGO is the best educational programme to accelerate sports leadership development. I would say it could be truly transformative for any participant working in the global sport economy. For me, it was a unique opportunity to connect people, build bridges across sport, integrate insights and knowledge from different fields and broaden horizons to better understand how to navigate through the challenges and opportunities, especially in an environment that has changed a lot in recent years.”
Who: Industry influencers working in sports organisations (not only football): associations, clubs, leagues, players’ unions, public authorities, international institutions and partner organisations of sports bodies
Where: Six sessions in Europe, two in the United States and one in Asia
How long: 20 months
Download the full brochureThe UEFA Strategic Communication compact course helps senior communications specialists improve and update their skills in four days of sessions comprising real case studies, practical exercises, best practices and group work. Developed by leading experts, the course helps participants deal with the complexity of devising and delivering effective communication to meet their organisations’ strategic priorities.
Vijay Michael Raj - Chief Reporter, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy - FIFA World Cup 2022
“The course was well structured, allowing us to process large volumes of information in a short time. I got valuable insights both from top experts and from fellow participants. Through case studies and group work I took home the key do’s and don’ts for an effective communication strategy.”
Who: Senior communications executives
Where: UEFA Headquarters
How long: 4 days
Download the full brochureThe UEFA MIP is a unique academic programme that equips former international players with essential professional skills to achieve their ambition of successfully transitioning to a second career within football organisations.
Ricardo Kaká Leite
“The UEFA MIP is a great opportunity to gain a broader view of the football industry by examining a range of topics with the assistance of qualified professionals who fully understand the issues in the sport we love so much. Spending time with a group of people with different perspectives and viewpoints is a unique experience that made me think about breaking paradigms and challenge myself to always seek improvement. What makes the UEFA MIP exceptional is the quality of the people we come into contact with in different cities and countries, and everyone has the same passion for football.”
Who: Former international football and futsal players, referees and coaches
Where: Six sessions in Europe, one in the United States and one session in South America
How long: 20 months
Download the full brochureThe UEFA RGP is a prestigious grant programme designed for academics working in partnership with national associations to deliver research that improves strategic decision-making in European football.
Dr Tom Webb, Senior Lecturer, Sports Management and Development, University of Portsmouth
“As the recipient of a grant, I have benefited both academically and professionally from the process. The grant enabled me to engage with UEFA and the French and Dutch football associations as part of my research programme, facilitating important findings into referee abuse, experience and training in different cultures and countries. Developing an under-researched subject area and furthering academic and professional understanding have been central to the grant programme and my research.”
Who: Researchers at a university or equivalent institution with the support of a UEFA member association
Where: Research carried out at home institution
How long: 9 months’ research
Grant: Individual grant of up to €15,000; Joint grant of up to €20,000
Download the full brochureThe Women in Football Leadership Programme is designed for women in football who have the potential and motivation to progress into senior leadership positions within their organisation or are already in such roles. Participants work on and discuss aspects of leadership, while also focusing heavily on self awareness and how this can support their career development. With the coaching included during the programme week, participants are challenged in both personal and professional aspects.
Inge van Bogerijen - Coordinator KNVB Expertise
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with such an international group and peers I want to learn from - that’s very inspiring. As a woman working in football, sometimes we have to raise our hands and our voices even more than our male colleagues. You have to believe in yourself, and diverse teams will make better decisions."
Who: Women in decision-making positions or those with particular potential working in national associations and their stakeholders
Where: Nyon, Zürich, and Lausanne, Switzerland (in alternance)
How long: 1 week
About the UEFA Academy
Building on the professional excellence UEFA has established throughout its history and the learning initiatives developed over the last decade, the UEFA Academy inspires the education of individuals and organisations to continuously elevate the game.
Since its foundation, the Academy has trained more than 3,000 graduates from 145 nations around the world, offering 62 learning initiatives each year.
