Representatives from La Liga and the University of Canberra (UC) shared their intentions to professionalise the local sports industry through their partnership at a webinar on Thursday night.
La Liga’s educational department, the La Liga Business School and the University of Canberra announced a collaborative agreement last week. The partnership will see La Liga Business School and the University of Canberra work on educational projects together.
Speaking at the ‘Beyond 2020: Professional Football Strategy – A discussion with La Liga’ webinar, LaLiga’s delegate in Australia and New Zealand, Glen Rolls said that it was exciting to be able to partner with the University of Canberra in La Liga’s first partnership in education in Australia.
“We certainly look forward to developing more programs to help … professionalise the industry moving forward,” he said.
“It’s great to be able to share our knowledge in each of these markets but we also want to be able to learn, to be able to grow as an organisation itself. So, there is certainly some key learnings that we can also learn as an organisation from the local football industry here.”
The webinar was the first event held by La Liga and the University of Canberra since the partnership was announced.
University of Canberra Academic and former FIFA Assistant Referee Allyson Flynn said that the university is developing a robust sporting reputation worldwide.
“UC is excited to partner with the La Liga Business School to achieve the objectives of the La Liga’s international development strategy,” Flynn said.
“There are several synergies that arise through the aim of professionalising sports management education and the local sports industry.
“The university is well equipped to co-develop and deliver material with our industry partners such as Capital Football.
“This partnership reaffirms UC is the home of sport and UC’s place as a leader and innovator in sports management education.”
Capital Football CEO Phil Brown and Villarreal C.F Business Development Manager Mar Llaneza also spoke at the event.
Phil Brown said that the partnership would help the sports industry both in Canberra and across Australia.
“I think it’s a great opportunity especially for the young, up and coming sports administrators that might be able to access some learning from some of the best in the world in a partnership with the University of Canberra,” he said.