SBS introduces PG course in Sports Marketing and Business Management

Even if you are an engineer, an arts graduate or a commerce student, it does not really matter till you walk around with that ever-precious MBA certificate in your hand, such is the state of thins in the current scenario. MBA has become an obsession in the education spectrum much like a red Ferrari is an obsession for a teenager just breaking into his puberty years.

You're not even looked at in the same way if you mention only engineer or graduate in economics, as opposed to an MBA. If you're an MBA, you've achieved the highest echelon of the education world! MBA has, ironically, become almost the second skin the education structure. And things in India have been pretty straight forward; until now.

You see, in MBA, you had a choice between Finanace, Marketing and HR, broadly. But with the industry dynamics changing owing to human behaviour and reaction towards things, some specialised modules are being drawn up in the education spectrum too. There are some unique combinations under the MBA umbrella that are essentially same specialised modules like Marketing or Finance, just that they are much radical ' something that no one would've thought would exist till about a few years ago.

There are specialization courses in media and marketing, forest management and even tourism ' so it is not just the usual list of marketing, finance and HR that you have to choose from.

And now, with sports becoming a big money-making source, Sports Business School (SBS) has launched a Post Graduate Programs in Sports Marketing and Business Management. SBS operates in collaboration with sports organizations, federations, teams, events, agencies, sports media, sporting goods brands, and other important companies in the sports industry.

Sports represent a multi billion-dollar industry with a wide variety of employment opportunities, including management, marketing, and supervisory positions. Sports marketing to sports merchandising, a sports business degree can open up many opportunities within this fast-paced industry. The field of sport management is nacent yet, but has huge potential of growth, especially with the influences of the media, internet, and news industries.

Qualified professionals with a focussed understanding of the sports vertical are needed in numbers. There is a need to develop promotions and sponsorship programs, serve as facilities managers, and work with media relations; a sports business degree offers students a chance the key skills needed for a rewarding and lucrative career.

The world of MBA is fierce and SBS offers professional sports career training programs, specially designed to assist professionals to step into the sports marketing and management industry.

Explaining that the courses were designed to accelerate the learning process within developing sports markets, SBS Director, Nigel Empson said, "India and similar developing territories are poised for rapid growth within the sports sector. This creates a demand for people with leadership qualities, and a knowledge and understanding of the global business of sport.

"These programs will give candidates access to industry professionals from across the world, and from a broad range of sports and sports-related businesses. Through this exposure candidates will acquire a practical understanding of current thinking and best practice. We aim to move beyond the academic to add skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable candidates to make an impact - they will be involved not just in extensive case studies but also in 'live' projects," he added.

Stephen Constantine, former India National Coach, FIFA Coach Instructor, UEFA Professional Diploma Holder and now Coach of European club side APEP, welcomed the launch of the SBS program: "Sport in India needs talented managers and administrators, and these programs should go a long way towards meeting that need. India has huge potential but there's a lack of experience and expertise in many key areas - I'm delighted that SBS has stepped in and I'll be discussing with them how I can get involved in supporting what they're looking to achieve."