Students in #UCFBusiness’ DeVos Sport Business Minor program traveled this month to Europe as part of their class experience, where they visited Paris and London. This was the program’s first international excursion.
In addition to taking in cultural landmarks like Notre Dame and Big Ben, the group spoke with officials at the Ligue de Football Professionnel, INSEP, Wimbledon, the Marylebone Cricket Club, Fulham Football Club and Arsenal Football Club.
“In each city that we visited, we met with sport business executives to get insights and career advice. In the classroom, we learn how many organizations operate, but on these trips we get a more specific understanding of the individual operations,” said Teresa Leonard, ’14, a student on the trip.
Leonard currently interns with Orlando City Soccer Foundation and with Smooth Running, LLC, a producer of fitness competitions. In the future she hopes to work in finance or branding for a sport organization. “I had my first opportunity to hear from a league-level executive at the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the governing body of French professional soccer. I was able to learn about their branding strategy and how they are positioning themselves as the training ground for future English Premier League stars.”
Both the minor and the DeVos Sport Business Management graduate program emphasize hands-on industry experience. The graduate program was recently ranked second in the world for sport management education by SportBusiness International.
“The sports industry is extremely hard to break into because many people have a desire to work in such an exciting field. Experiences I had as part of the DeVos Sport Business Minor allowed me to network with individuals already in the industry and create a huge contact base,” said Summer Dickey, ’12, an alumna of the college working at ProCamps Worldwide.
The DeVos Sport Business Management Minor is designed to develop future business leaders in the sport and entertainment industry. Students in the program participate in a variety of volunteer, internship and other experiential learning opportunities. Learn more about the minor at http://business.ucf.edu/degree/business-minors/sport-business-management/.
About the College of Business Administration:
Established in 1968, the UCF College of Business Administration offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and executive levels. All programs, as well as the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting are accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The college provides high-quality academic programs designed to give students a competitive advantage in the world of business now and in the future. As such, the college establishes partnerships with some of the nation’s most innovative leaders to model new and best practices that harness evolving technology. In addition, the college promotes a unique culture of engagement, risk-taking, cross-disciplinary collaboration and data-driven decision making in an effort to ensure students are well prepared to enter a dynamic marketplace.
America’s Partnership University:
The University of Central Florida, the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit https://www.ucf.edu/news/.