Sports business specialists become college of UEL

The University of East London has been unveiled as the new validating partner for degrees from the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and Global Institute of Sport (GIS) who become a college of the University.

UCFB and GIS deliver degrees dedicated to the football and sports industry from their Wembley and Etihad Stadium based campuses in London and Manchester, with access to global study hubs in North America and Australia.

Beginning with the 2021 student intake, UEL will validate the undergraduate and Master's provision. 

UEL's own sport-related degrees have led graduates to jobs with famous clubs such as West Ham Utd and the New York Giants and in a wide range of organisations across the local, national and global sport sector. UEL is committed to providing careers-1st higher education provision, and the new partnership provides further opportunities to accelerate graduate opportunities.

The academic partnership draws on UEL's global sports experience, aligning with the expertise and academic remit of UCFB and GIS. Each institution has a strategic focus on careers, as well as sports industry links, to give students and alumni the best chance of success in a future career in football business and sport.

UEL is a forward-thinking, careers-led university with a clear objective of ensuring graduates are industry-ready. Their goal as part of the Vision 2028 strategy is to become the leading careers-focussed, enterprising university in the UK through a transformation of curriculum, pedagogy, research impact and partnerships to make a positive difference to student, graduate and community success. 

This vision is aligned to that of UCFB and GIS, which aspire to be the world-leaders in university and executive education in sport. As well as their iconic stadium locations in the UK, UCFB and GIS also have stadium study hubs in New York, Atlanta, Toronto and Melbourne, and utilise a number of senior sports industry executives around the world to elevate the educational experience of students. 

This global vision also aligns with UEL's extensive global network, as the sports education institutions continue to grow internationally and attract students from across the world to their UK and online campuses.

In addition, UEL have achieved the following rankings recently:

• Top 50 UK institutions for sports programmes in the Complete University Guide Rankings 2021;
• Ranked 1st in the UK and 2nd global for reducing inequalities in the Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings 2021;
• Top 250 world institutions in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2021;
• Top 25% of universities globally for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2021 

 As part of Vision 2028, we've set ourselves the goal of extending our impact as London's leading sports university, connecting with learners, stakeholders and partners across the world,"

Professor Amanda Broderick, UEL vice-chancellor and president, said.

She continued, "Our partnership with UCFB and GIS fits perfectly with this aim and is a significant step in our journey to become a focal point for excellence and knowledge exchange in the global education and sport sector."

Brendan Flood, UCFB and GIS chairman, said, "I'm delighted that our degrees will now be validated by the University of East London, further strengthening the quality of provision available to our students. 

"UEL's careers-focussed values are perfectly aligned with our own learning model, and this coupled with the global opportunities available to UCFB and GIS students will only further improve the career options available to them."