The International Centre for Sports Studies, known mostly by the initialsCIES from the FrenchCentre International d'Etude du Sport, is an independent research and education centre located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It has a research group called CIES Football Observatory that focuses on statistical studies of football-related matters.[1]
CIES organizes and offers a one-year postgraduate sports executive program, endorsed by FIFA,[7] which consists of three modules that are taught across three universities in Europe, and concludes with a final project.[8] The successful conclusion of the program merits the award of FIFA Master International in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.[9] It was created in 2000 to promote a managerial culture within the sports industry, with the aim to develop the skills of aspiring managers so that they can take on the complex challenges of this industry.[10]
With around 20 nationalities represented in class each year, the FIFA Master provides an international and dynamic learning environment, and focuses on three major and interconnected subject fields: management (SDA Bocconi), law (Neuchâtel) and human sciences (De Montfort). The strengths of the FIFA Master in the key areas of graduate employability, alumni networks, quality of teaching and international appeal has seen the programme named as the top postgraduate sports management course in the world by SportBusiness International in their 2014 rankings. Established in 2000, the FIFA Master scooped the top global award at this year's ceremony, having previously been named as the leading course in Europe by the same rankings from 2012 to 2015. More than 500 international sport management courses and alumni submitted data to the 2014 rankings process.[11]
The Master offers students the chance to meet with top international managers from the world of sport (e.g. clubs, federations, associations, etc.) and to be part of a network of highly relevant contacts. Graduates from the course become members of the FMA (the FIFA Master Alumni Association), which guarantees they will remain in touch with important stakeholders in sport.
De Montfort University
Humanities of Sport – The first term is taught at the International Centre for Sport History and Culture (ICSHC) at the De Montfort University, Leicester. The ICSHC was established in 1996 and is today widely acknowledged as the leading centre for the study of sports history in the world. The Humanities of Sport modules addresses the birth of modern sport, professionalisation and internationalisation of sport and sport ethics.
SDA Bocconi
Sport Management – The second term is taught at the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, one of Europe's most prestigious business schools. This term addresses the area of Sports Management and covers topics such as finance, marketing, organization and governance, strategy, business planning, and event management, applied to the context of sport.
Université de Neuchâtel
Sport Law – The third and final term is taught at the Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, whose Law Faculty is one of the top law faculties in Switzerland. This term addresses the area of Sports Law and covers topics such as the legal aspects of the private sector of sport, the legal status of the sports person, legal aspects of sport and health, sport business and law, and methods of dispute resolution.
Final project
The Final Project of the FIFA Master in Management, Law, & Humanities of Sport is seen as an opportunity for postgraduates to conduct original research, demonstrate creativity and independent thinking, as well as to develop and defend their ideas. Working in small research teams, postgraduates develop an inter-disciplinary research project with reference to the course themes of Management, Law and the Humanities of Sport. The final work, which is expected to have an applicable nature to issues faced in world sport, is presented to a specially invited audience of industry and academic experts during a special conference event in Neuchâtel. Previous Final Projects have been implemented directly by sports organizations or by course Alumni in the sports industry.
CIES' postgraduates are examined throughout the FIFA Master in Management, Law, & Humanities of Sport by a variety of assessment methods. These include group assessments, written examinations, oral examinations and research papers. The assessment timetable is devised by each of the three partner universities.
Course patrons
Every year, the FIFA Master class is supported by a globally recognised patron who has made a profound contribution to sport.[12][failed verification]
^Poli, Raffaele; Ravenel, Loïc; Besson, Roger (October 2018). "Scientific assessment of football players' transfer value"(PDF). Football Observatory. International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES). Archived(PDF) from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^Poli, Raffaele; Ravenel, Loïc; Besson, Roger (December 2017). "2018 FIFA World Cup: profile of qualified teams"(PDF). CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report (30). Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2019 – via FIFA.com.
