The UNIC-FIFPro Global Educational Initiative is Unveiled

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) last week participated in the FIFPro Division Europe General Assembly, which took place in Malta.

The University was represented by newly appointed, Mr. Andreas T. Themistocleous, Sports Business Manager and Faculty Member in the “Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management” Department.

During the General Assembly, the Global Education Initiative between UNIC and FIFPro was introduced officially to all delegates of FIFPro Division Europe, representing thirty (30) different European countries.

The Global Education Initiative will allow over one thousand (1,000) professional footballers from around the world to study Sports Management and Business Administration online. More importantly, it will empower footballers and prepare them for a professional career, after their playing-days are over. This five year cooperation offers a series of benefits to participating athletes, including a Scholars Scheme, which provides for full scholarships to active professional players who are FIFPro members, as well as hundreds of other partial scholarships.

Highlighted in Mr. Themistocleous’ address to the FIFPro Division Europe General Assembly was the necessity of the Dual Career concept for professional athletes in general (males and females), as well as the need for footballers to invest in their future and in themselves. Recognising the challenges of a Dual Career, Mr. Themistocleous stressed that this initiative is a Feasible and Flexible programme, which will allow professional athletes to study from almost anywhere in the world, setting their own schedule and their own pace, without disrupting their sporting career, instead, enhancing it by becoming more focused, more goal oriented and even more disciplined in their daily regimens.

UNIC is set to continue the promotion of this Global Education Initiative in Asia and Africa in the upcoming weeks, as well as during individualised meetings with National Players’ Unions around the globe.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.unic.ac.cy/fifpro for further information on this initiative and the associated programmes.

Alternatively, you can also liaise with your National Players’ Union and/or contact UNIC directly, via email at [email protected].

All inquiries made to UNIC are usually responded to within 48 hours of submission.