Marcus Butler
2 November 2016: The University of Canberra has welcomed a group of sports administrators from India in the first intake of a new short course in sports leadership management.
The delegates spent two weeks in Canberra last month, taking part in the new program which has received $475,000 in funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Program leader and assistant professor of sport and exercise science Naroa Etxebarria said the short course was created out of the University’s Master of High Performance Sport, which includes a stream in sports leadership management.
Two courses will be run over the coming months; the first at the University’s Bruce campus where 15 delegates from India attended, a second course will run in Colombo, Sri Lanka for delegates from other South Asian nations.
Dr Etxebarria said one of the goals of the course is to share views on a variety of topics which are critical to professional sports leadership.
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The University's Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deep Saini officially welcomed a group of delegates from India for the new Sports Leadership course. Photo: Marcus Butler
“The course focuses on issues like athlete development, high-performance sport, and mass participation,” she said. “There are other topics which we address include the development of sports science and medicine professionals, awareness of inclusive practices, gender equity, integrity and anti-corruption.”
The course is being delivered by University of Canberra and external experts, from the Australian Sports Commission, the Commonwealth Games Association, coaches and authorities working in sports integrity.
Dr Etxebarria recently travelled to Sri Lanka and India, meeting delegates and different sport organisations to ensure the course was developed in a way that was most relevant to those countries and to gain an appreciation of sporting leadership in their home countries.
She said sport has always helped to foster good relations between nations.
“We hope that the program will strengthen ties between Australia and nations like India and Sri Lanka on the back of their sporting industries, as well as with the University.
“I’m thrilled that this program which sprung from UC’s Master in High Performance Sport course is helping international development in our region and improving the way sport is administrated in these countries,” she said.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Deep Saini launched the program and welcomed the first delegates, along with special guests from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Indian High Commission.
