School of Business, Al Ahly Partner to Introduce Sports Management Education in the Region
“Today, Al Ahly Club, a big entity, and The American University in Cairo, also a big educational institution, collaborate toward a program that will benefit the community and the future leaders of society. The American University in Cairo, with its history, will help us prepare calibers who could benefit society with their knowledge on managing sports facilities.” - Mahmoud El Khatib, president, Al Ahly Sports Club
There is no doubt that a pressing market gap exists in Egypt, and in the region at large, when it comes to sports management. To fill this gap and address the fast-growing need for advanced training and development in this area, AUC's School of Business and Al Ahly Sports Club signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday, April 11 at the club’s premises in Al Gezira to initiate a joint collaboration for co-creating a sports management hub at AUC's School of Business. The hub aims to develop a new generation of high-level management calibers in the different and progressing fields. of sports management
The partnership will support the development of sports management education in Egypt and the region by developing a range of programs addressing a broad spectrum of topics, including sports management, marketing, finance, event management, and sports psychology and ethics, sports economics and branding, and sports law, providing participants with practical know-how and a hands-on experience.
“What makes this program special is that it is looking at sports management in general and not looking at one sport in particular. The program will include a hands-on methodology through field visits to Al Ahly Club premises to experience firsthand the different aspects of managing a full-fledged sports operation,” stated Serageldin.
The first sport management program will be initially offered virtually. Applications will open in July, while the program will be offered in September 2021.
“The AUC School of Business Executive Education is always seeking to collaborate with strong entities in specific industries and fields to enable it to develop educational programs of the greatest value to the market, whether in Egypt or across the Middle East and Africa. Our partnership with Al-Ahly sports club will ensure the development and delivery of a sports management program of the highest caliber, as well as secure the maximum exposure for the program,” said Mohamed Abdelsalam, executive director of the AUC School of Business Executive Education.
At the ceremony, Khatib and AUC President Francis Ricciardone signed the agreement, which will set the pace of sports management education in Egypt, the Middle East and Africa. The event was attended by a host of high-level executives from both institutions.
"The sports management hub is a collaboration between two giants; namely Al Ahly and AUC's School of Business. The initiative, which is a culmination of two years of development and planning, will generate well-developed calibers in the Egyptian sports sector," commented Mohamed Serageldin ‘10, ‘18, member of the Al Ahly Sports Club board of directors.
Established in 1907, Al Ahly is the leading Egyptian professional sports club with its football team being dubbed the African club of the century and considered the most successful football team in Africa and one of the continent's greatest African giants, it is also the most decorated club in the world with the biggest fan base in the region. The club specializes in developing and managing sports teams that compete locally and internationally. Aside from sports, Al Ahly has grown to participate in and initiate numerous social development integration activities, among which is an agreement with UNICEF to advocate for the rights of disadvantaged children across Egypt.
“This is a very special combination of the two brands, for our School of Business to offer its expertise in training and education, which is recognized around the world, to join with Al Nady Al Ahly with its history –– even longer than our 100 years –– at the heart of Egyptian national pride, accomplishment and fame in the world,” said Ricciardone.
With a clear vision to address the gap in sports management capabilities in the market and a responsibility to provide a global standard of education, this impressive partnership sees the leading business school in the region and the sports club of the century working hand in hand on the enhancement and development of this dynamic field.
Watch the full live event here.
