The University of Jyväskylä starts educating responsible sport managers

Innovative international master’s degree programme launched as a collaboration between the School of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.
Published
21.8.2020

The University of Jyväskylä is launching an international master’s degree programme that is targeted to the future sport managers and professionals. The programme is a new form of co-operation between the School of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.

The master’s degree programme of Responsible Management and Business of Sport (RESPO) offers multidisciplinary academic knowledge and develops responsible thinking and management competence for various sport organisations. New insights and mutual ideas in the field are much needed since factors such as climate change, ethical issues and COVID-19 have a great impact for sport management. The programme co-operates interactively also with the stakeholders and employers.

The unique collaboration of the two faculties promotes theoretical understanding, in which business and organisational thinking synergise with the social sciences and sociology of sport. Thus, the combination of these two fields creates a high-quality study environment and student experience. The study curriculum includes, among others, advanced-level courses on responsible management and leadership, and human resources management. It also includes courses related to the operational practices of various sport organisations, sport ethics, and sport as a societal phenomenon. Students are offered an internship placement in sport organisations in Finland or abroad, and a key focus is on completing a master thesis project.

The total extent of the programme is 120 ECTS credits. The first application round is in January 2021 and the programme begins in September 2021.

The programme was introduced in an open Responsible Sport Management Webinar on Wednesday, 26 August 2020 at 13:00–14:00 (Finnish Time) in Zoom. The webinar can be now watched on the University of Jyväskylä YouTube-channel and the link below. 

More information:

  • Suvi Heikkinen, Programme Leader, School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, phone: +358 40 805 3319, email: suvi.s.heikkinen@jyu.fi
  • Hanna Vehmas, Programme Leader, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, phone: +358 40 805 3977, email: hanna.m.vehmas@jyu.fi