Victoria University sports students will gain behind-the-scenes access at Real Madrid Football Club through a new partnership signed this month.

The five-year deal signed with Universidad Europea de Madrid will see students in selected masters programs travel to Spain where they will be embedded at the school and have access to the club.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Dawkins said the partnership is a significant step in cementing VU’s position as Australia’s leading sports university.

"Most people can only dream about seeing how one of the most successful sporting clubs in the world functions from the inside and asking questions directly to its staff but that is exactly what we are offering at VU," Professor Dawkins said.

"We pride ourselves on our expertise in sports education and strong industry links, and our newest partnership is another way we are continuing to provide world-class opportunities for our students."

Universidad Europea de Madrid experience

Students enrolled in the Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) and Master of Sport Business and Integrity programs have the opportunity to complete a two-week exchange in Spain.

Students will visit Real Madrid Football Club and study at the Universidad Europea de Madrid (a joint venture between Real Madrid FC and the European University of Madrid).

Staff from the Universidad Europea de Madrid will also visit VU to teach courses, and share their expertise with students in Australia.

College of Sport & Exercise Science Dean, Professor Hans Westerbeek said the partnership will also bring Real Madrid expertise directly to classes in Australia.

"Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea has some of the world’s most highly-regarded sports educators, in football especially, and this partnership will see these very people deliver lectures at VU campuses in Australia," Professor Westerbeek said.

"This means students will learn from a strengthened teaching staff throughout the duration of their degrees, not only while they’re in Madrid."

Legendary Real Madrid striker and now Director of Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea, Emilio Butragueño, said VU is the first Australian university to enter into a partnership with Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea and have access to the famed sporting club.

"Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea is excited about working with our first Australian partner," Mr Butragueño said.

"Victoria University has a reputation as a leading sports university, so we are very much looking forward to learning from their staff as well as sharing our knowledge with students."

Former Cricket Victoria CEO and current Cricket Without Borders Director Ken Jacobs is enrolled in the Master of Sport Business and Integrity program. He said he's eager to gain insights on sports integrity management at such a high profile club.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to experience the current sports management and integrity trends in a global sport from a very successful organisation at the very top of that sport," he said.

The official logo of the Universidad Europea de Madrid.

Courses participating in the exchange

This partnership between Victoria University and the Universidad Europea de Madrid applies to:

Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) which includes a 2 week residential program in Spain

Master of Sport Business and Integrity (from 2016, and will include a 1 week residential program in Spain).

Enrolments for both masters programs are still open, interested students can apply until Friday, 20 February 2015. See the course pages for application links.

Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) students will be the first to participate in the exchange program and will take part in a residential program in Madrid in September 2015.

Students in the Master of Sport Business and Integrity will commence participation in the exchange residential program in 2016.

Contact us

Further information about the partnership between Victoria University and the Universidad Europea de Madrid:

Professor Hans Westerbeek

Dean, College of Sport & Exercise Science, Victoria University

Phone: +61 408 133 756

Email: [email protected].

More about the partnership between Victoria University and the Universidad Europea de Madrid is available at this url: http://vu.edu.au/rmgs .

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