Global Institute of Sport launches ‘study and play’ football academy partnership in Dubai

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced its expansion into the Middle East through a partnership with leading football performance specialists The Player.

The partnership offers aspiring footballers from around the world the opportunity to study a GIS university degree while immersing themselves in an elite football environment in the stunning surroundings of Dubai.

The new ‘Study & Play: Dubai’ initiative provides footballers of all levels with an unprecedented opportunity to train and play in state-of-the-art facilities under the guidance of UEFA A licenced coaches. Alongside their football, students studying a specialist GIS online sports degree will receive local academic support as well as be part of a global cohort of GIS students studying the same degree course.

Open to students from across the world to move to Dubai, successful applicants will be able to immerse themselves in the Middle East’s emerging football market, gain cutting-edge skills and apply for sports work placements that will shape their future both on and off the field.

The Player co-founder and former Newcastle United player, Steven Taylor (pictured below) commented “this partnership with GIS offers a fantastic opportunity for young athletes. Education is one of our four main focuses at The Player, and we’re able to offer high level performance training alongside this education.”

Fellow The Player co-founder and UEFA A licenced coach, Sam White noted “we’re really proud to be introducing this partnership with Global Institute of Sport, and being able to offer young professionals and talented young athletes the opportunity to study a degree and play or work within the world of football in Dubai at the same time.”

GIS President and Chief Executive, Sharona Friedman, added, “GIS was founded with the intention of bringing the best learning and education from the world of sport together so that students are able to graduate with a holistic understanding of best practice from around the globe.

“We are delighted to partner with The Player to provide an additional immersive opportunity for students to study and train in an elite football environment, whilst also bringing our education model to a new region, which will be at the forefront of sports business and performance for the decades to come.”

The GIS degrees available to study as part of this opportunity are:

• Certificate of Higher Education in Football Coaching
• MSc Football Business
• MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
• MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing
• MSc International Sport Management
• MSc Performance Analysis in Football
• MA Sports Agency
• MSc Sports Marketing & Media

All programs are delivered entirely online with the exception of MSc Football Coaching & Analysis which is largely online plus two residential weeks in either London, Miami or Melbourne.

Click here for more information on GIS programs.