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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT
Interview with

Richard Goddard | graduate 2021

What is your current professional activity? And your involvement in sport?
Sport Development Officer.
 
Why did you choose to study the FIFA/CIES Programme in Sport Management at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus?
Saw it as an opportunity to learn about the administrative side of sport at a time when sport was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
What were your expectations before the start of the course? And… were they met?
I went in with an open mind, and the programme surpassed my expectations.
 
What would you say are the key strengths of the UWI/FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management?
Course can be applied across many sport and business environments. Class times are suitable for working adults. UWI staff and professors willing to work with you to ensure you understand the information. Different perspectives as many classmates are from different countries representing different interests. The administrative help was on-point. Many thank you’s to Calisia Gregoire. 
 
What benefits (on a personal and/or professional level) did you gain from attending the course?
A better understanding of administrative aspect of sport. Ability to build a wide sport network across the Caribbean. Improved understanding concerning the legal framework around sport.
 
How have the courses offered by the programme aided in developing your knowledge, competencies, and skills?
I see the business of sport differently. I expect to use the information to make much better decisions to help improve the off and on field sport product in Tobago and by extension, Trinidad and Tobago.
 
How has the programme contributed to your professional growth and employability?
The transferability of course information to real world application gives me and all my classmates a proverbial ‘leg up’, as all that we have learned can also be applied in other industries throughout the business sector.
 
What is your best memory/highlight of the course?
The group projects were always interesting and allowed for significant and lively discussions about sport. 
 
Would you recommend the UWI/FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management? Why?
Yes. I would recommend the UWI Sport Management Post Grad Diploma course, as it gives a solid base of knowledge for those who would like to continue along the path of sport management or sport administration. The programme is not just for persons aspiring to positively affect management decisions within a sporting organisation but to anyone willing to have a better understanding of the business of sport. From Strategic Planning to Human Resource to Communication, this course opens your eyes and mind to a world of possibilities well beyond the field of play and the stadium’s track surfaces. Accept the challenge. It will be worth the time.