Centre of Excellence for the Sports and Events Industries Launched at Doha Goals

10 December 2013

The Josoor Institute, a centre of excellence designed to give world-class education and training facilities to the people of Qatar, the Middle East and North Africa, was unveiled today by Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, during the second annual Doha Goals Forum.

The Josoor Institute will train many of the people who will play an integral role in Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, individuals who will then have the knowledge to deliver large-scale sporting and non-sporting events across the region long after 2022.

The Josoor Institute will teach courses on a range of topics from running major events and the business of football to creating a culture of volunteering. Courses at the Josoor Institute will combine classroom-based theory with practical learning in a variety of ways:

Outreach days - Providing university students with the information they need to shape their careers, whilst learning about the opportunities of working in the sports and events industries;

Short courses – Targeted at professionals who wish to develop new skills and gain an awareness of new career opportunities within the sports and event industries;

Programme pathways – A range of professional certificate and diploma programmes providing both academic and work-based experience. These courses aim to prepare graduates for managerial and leadership positions in the sports and event industries.

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee is a founding partner of the Josoor Institute and is working alongside some of the world’s leading universities, marketing agencies, media outlets and events and sports management companies to develop and deliver the programmes and courses.

More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the Josoor Institute in the first full operational year beginning in October 2014. Georgetown University is working with the Institute to provide an academic framework and endorsement for coursework.

Although the Josoor Institute is still in development, the first outreach course took place on Monday 9th December. Over the next two days a further 100 participants from countries including Kuwait, Libya, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, Bahrain, Oman and Sudan will take part in two, short courses on the Business of Football and an Introduction to Running Major Events.

These courses will be delivered by leading specialists in their field, ranging from a former Chief Executive of the Premier League, to those responsible for delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Rugby World Cup.

Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali, Minister of Youth and Sport, said: Increasing educational opportunities is central to Qatar’s achieving the ambitious goals set out in the Qatar National Vision 2030. We in Qatar firmly believe that access to education and enabling the transfer of knowledge are key to the advancement of societies across the Middle East.

We believe that learning inspires young people and provides a clear means to improve their lives. That is why we aim to make sport a way of life in Qatar. Participation in sport has the power to broaden the horizons of our youth, inspiring new ways of thinking and easing the path to obtaining new knowledge and skills.

I strongly believe that the Josoor Institute creates an exceptional opportunity for our region. It will provide young people with new opportunities to learn in and outside of the classroom and enhance our ability to host major sporting events. The new knowledge it will create has the power to inspire our young people, providing them with the means to become leaders in their communities and societies.

Finally, I am certain that the Josoor Institute will play an important role in Qatar, by preparing Qatari youth to assist in our great nation’s hosting of a truly amazing 2022 FIFA World Cup™.”

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said: “The Josoor Institute will provide the people of Qatar, the Middle East and North Africa with the educational opportunities necessary to realise their dreams of a career in the sports and events industries. The next eight years and beyond are an exciting time for our region and I believe that the Josoor Institute will play a key role in establishing us as pioneers in these industries.”

In the first quarter of 2014, the Josoor Institute will host a further series of invitation-only short courses. Individuals and organisations interested in learning more about these courses and upcoming programme pathways should email info@josoorinstitute.qa or visit www.josoorinstitute.qa  

Josoor Institute Partner Organisations:

Founding Partners: Aspire Academy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Qatar Football Association, Qatar University, Silatech, Qatar Tourism Authority

Institutional Partners: Deloitte, Georgetown University, IMG, the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), Qatar Stars League,

Programme & Course Partners: Beyond Sport, Leeds Metropolitan University, Rushmans,  Wasserman

Associate Partner: College of North Atlantic Qatar

Media Partners: Al Jazeera, Getty Images, SportBusiness International

Partners

Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy

Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy

Aspire Academy

Aspire Academy

Qatar Football Association

Qatar Football Association

Qatar Stars League

Qatar Stars League

SDA

SDA

yougov

yougov

HBKU

HBKU

LEADERS

LEADERS

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