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. Also worked for Bjk Tv as a reporter.
Why did you choose to attend the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Programme at Bahcesehir University?
This programme 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 programme has different branches about Sports like Law, Management… and I thought I could learn so many things that I don’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 especially. Because I more or less know about Communication and 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 much people who can happily help me if I have any questions or problems.
What would you say are the key strengths of the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Programme?
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 the books. Also the trips we made to some sport agencies or clubs were very helpful to learn how the work goes.
Which benefits (on a personal and/or professional level) did you gain from attending the course?
I met really nice and educated people in 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 Programme. We’re 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 skipped presenting one slide of the project unconsciously :=) But it was good at the end and I was really relieved.
Would you recommend the FIFA/CIES Sport Management Programme? Why?
Yes I would recommend this programme. Because apart from having helpful lectures it also helps to get a good network around sports people. And as I mentioned before I think knowing right and educated people is very important (at least it is important in Turkey :=)…). But I think this programme could be better published 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.