The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) and the Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research (Pillai) signed a partnership agreement on 3rd December, 2018 in Mumbai. The main objective of the agreement is to organise the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in Sports Management for a country where sport has experienced significant growth over the last few years.
It was in Mumbai, the metropolis located on the west coast of India, that CIES and the Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research signed a partnership agreement to allow Indian football and sports managers to attend the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme. The curriculum is currently organised across 15 other countries in Asia, Africa, South America and Central America, as well as in the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe. It allows managers from various sports organisations to gain knowledge of management principles in fields such as marketing, sponsorship, finance and accounting, communication, management, law and event management.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai, who is President of the Pillai Group, Pierre Cornu, President of CIES Foundation Council and Shri. Vinod Tawde, Minister of Sport in the Maharashtra Government.
After welcoming the many participants, Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai observed that the partnership had come at the right time and would play an essential role in Indian football and sport in general, and also for football and sport at the regional level. “The Pillai group has focused on excellence in education for five decades now and is also known for encouraging its students to pursue a career in sport. We are proud that our alumni include nationally and internationally known athletes who have participated at the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and also played in national cricket and football leagues. We are, therefore, convinced that being part of the FIFA/CIES University Network will allow us to become a leader in the field of football and sport management in Southern Asia.”
Pierre Cornu also emphasised the need for such training in sports organisations in the Indian subcontinent. “Sport is developing quickly in India, as shown by the examples of the Indian Super League in football, the Pro Kabbadi League or the Indian Premier League in cricket. It goes without saying that our presence in this young and very dynamic country is stimulating and encouraging. With our local partners, it will allow us to train a new generation of managers, and to help them meet the multiple and complex challenges facing contemporary sport.”
At the end of the event, which brought together many representatives from sport and the media, Franav Pillai, who is Director of the Pillai/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme added enthusiastically, “We have just launched a fruitful cooperation with CIES and the FIFA/CIES University Network, thanks to the support of FIFA. Being in contact with universities on several continents represents a unique opportunity to share skills that will be useful to Indian football and sport. Organising the Pillai/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme is a major source of motivation for us and a fantastic opportunity for my country.”
A Panel Discussion on “Business of Sports in India and its Potential” led by prominent sports professionals such as Mr. Srinivvasan Gopalkrishnan (Head of Strategy – Reliance Sports), Mr. Supratik Sen (CEO U-Mumba Kabaddi Team) and Mr. Chaitanya Divan (Head of Content Acquisition – Star Sports) was held on 3rd December 2018 in Mumbai. The panel was moderated by Indian Super League (ISL) presenter and sports enthusiast Ms. Khuri Irani. The discussion was held immediately after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CIES (The International Centre for Sports Studies, Switzerland), to conduct the prestigious FIFA/CIES Executive Program in Sports Management in India.
The first edition of the Pillai/FIFA/CIES Executive Certificate will start in September 2019.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Celina Joy
Academic Coordinator
celina@mes.ac.in
+91 9833709566