Sports management program celebrates ninth graduating class, begins diploma program for tenth

Birzeit University’s Center for Continuing Education celebrated the graduation of the ninth Executive Program in Sports Management class, supported by the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) together with the Palestinian Football Association, on October 5, 2019. The celebration marked the beginning of the diploma program of the Executive Program in Sports Management for the tenth cohort.

Marwan Tarazi, director of the center, expressed his pride in the center’s long-standing relationship with CIES and the Palestinian Football Association. This partnership, according to Tarazi, has helped the university reach a wider audience, both locally and internationally.

Alluding to the sports management program’s goal, Tarazi said that the knowledge obtained allows participants to pursue successful careers in the sports industry. Since its inception, the center has striven to provide community service by developing the Palestinian infrastructure, building capacities, and investing in human resources through its partnership with the private and public sectors and with civil society organizations.

Vincent Monnier, senior manager of international relations at CIES, congratulated the cohort of graduates. He expressed his excitement about the continuous development of the program that is welcoming its tenth group of participants as enrollees.

Monnier emphasized the importance of building long-term relationships with talents, clubs and commercial entities. He stressed that CIES realizes the importance of building the capacities and improving the performance of workers in this field, especially among females who can make important contributions to the sports and physical activities of nations.

Susan Shalabi, vice president of the Palestinian Football Association, acknowledged that the graduates have created new stories of success with their projects and dedication, noting that the graduating students now have the great opportunity to pursue higher education in the sports management field.

Rania Al-Qasem, director of the Executive Program in Sports Management told the audience how the program has evolved since its inception ten years ago. She pointed out that it is offered in 15 countries worldwide and includes six courses: sports management, financial management, marketing for sports institutions, communication skills, management of sports events, and sports law. Students who excel in their final project win an award for excellence and are invited to the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. 

Prior to the graduation ceremony, Monnier and  Birzeit University president Abdullatif Abuhijleh met to express their mutual gratefulness for the ongoing partnership and their enthusiasm about celebrating the program’s tenth anniversary in 2020.