The FIFA Master is a unique 10-month sport (and not solely football...) Master programme, initiated by FIFA, coordinated by CIES, and taught by three prestigious European universities: De Montfort University (Leicester, UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan, IT) and Neuchatel University (Neuchatel, CH), in association with the Università della Svizzera italiana.
What is your current professional activity and your involvement in sport?
I’m a congressman of Beşiktaş Football Club. I worked as a reporter and editor for a website (www.haber1903.com) for Beşiktaş Football Club. I also worked for Bjk TV as a reporter.
Why did you choose to attend the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Program at Bahcesehir University?
This program really caught my attention when I first saw it. I thought that it could be really helpful and educational for my career in sports. The program has different branches of sports such as Law, Management and I thought I could learn so many things that I didn’t know about sports.
What were your expectations before the start of the course? and… were they met?
I was expecting to learn the other branches of sports - except communication – which I am more or less familiar with. But I was curious about the others. Also I was expecting to meet new people who are working in this field. And most of my expectations were met. I learnt everything I’m curious about. Add to this I met really so many people who can fortunately help me if I have any questions or problems.
What would you say are the key strengths of the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Program?
The guest lecturers were professionals who joined us and gave us lectures. That lectures were very beneficial for me. Because learning the subjects from these people were more realistic than learning them from books. Also the trips we made to some sport agencies or clubs were very helpful to learn how the work goes.
What benefits (on a personal and/or professional level) did you gain from attending the course?
I met really nice, educated people there and we are still seeing each other. They really help me to orient my career in sports.
What is your best memory/highlight of the course?
It was the last day of the Program. We were going to present our projects and I was chosen as the speaker of our group. I was very excited this day and while presenting it I accidentally missed out one slide of the project. But it all turned out well in the end and I was really relieved.
Would you recommend the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Program? Why?
Yes I would recommend this program. Because apart from having helpful lectures it also helps to build a good network around sports people. And as I mentioned before I think knowing the right people is very important (at least in Turkey). But I think this program could be better publicized in Turkey.
Thanks and best wishes to all people in this network… it is a pleasure knowing you…
CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies), located in Neuchatel, is a private Swiss foundation, affiliated with the University of Neuchatel and created in 1995 by FIFA (under the impetus of its current president, Mr. Joseph S. Blatter), the University of Neuchatel, and the City and Canton of Neuchatel.
CIES specialises in three specific domains: law, sociology and economy of sport, with a view to bring together the sporting and the academic worlds. Privileging a pluri-disciplinary approach, CIES provides a wide range of research, education and consultancy services.