Celebrating 20 years of the Football Industries MBA
The University of Liverpool Management School recently marked the 20th anniversary of the Football Industries MBA programme (FIMBA) with a celebration which reunited staff and graduates from across the globe.
The two-day event was opened by founders of the FIMBA programme, Dr Rory Miller and Dr Rogan Taylor, and consisted of a series of professional development talks. Dr Rick Parry (BSc Hons Mathematics 1976; Hon LLD 2008), former Chief Executive of Liverpool Football Club and Management School Advisory Board member, delivered a presentation on current and future trends in the sports industry, while the Management School’s Professor Ian McHale lectured on big data and analytics in sports and the Head of the LFC Foundation spoke about corporate social responsibility in football. Former FIMBA Director of Studies Dr Geoff Pearson spoke about trends in sports law.
Attendees, also enjoyed a dinner at the Victoria Gallery and Museum where Dr Rory Miller and Dr Rogan Taylor were presented with awards for their dedication to the FIMBA programme by Professor Julia Balogun, Director of the Management School, ahead of their retirement from formal teaching. FIMBA alumni also thanked their former lecturers for their wisdom and encouragement and pledged a class gift to the IntoUniversity project, a joint collaboration between University of Liverpool, the Liverpool FC Foundation and education charity IntoUniversity which aims to raise the educational aspirations of children living in the Anfield area of Liverpool.
Jeff L’Hote who graduated from the FIMBA programme in 2005 and presented the gift on behalf of FIMBA alumni commented:
“We’ve all benefitted from our opportunity to study at MBA level and our broader Scouse experience, and we felt it was important to give something back to a community close to the University.”
The event came to a close with a screening of a cinematic documentary produced by FIMBA alumnus Dr Tom Markham. Kaiser: The greatest footballer never to have played football explores the life ofex-Brazilian footballer Carlos Kaiser, who despite having limited talent, managed to con his way into a professional football career which spanned 26 years.
FIMBA graduate Shah-Zeib Ahmed commented:
“It was great for such a diverse group of graduates to share their experiences of the FIMBA programme, with those in attendance living all over the world and having graduated as far back as 1998.”
FIMBA Director of Studies Tunde Buraimo added:
“It was a humbling to see so many alumni from over the years and this was true testament to the value of the Football Industries MBA. It is the first and it remains the only Football Specific MBA. It was also great to be reunited with all the Director of Studies that preceded me. Best of all, it was great to see guests and friends from the football industry; their support over the past years has been invaluable to us.”