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History of the Department

The Department of Sports Organization and Management, located in Sparti, was founded in April 2003 in the framework of the School of Human Movement and Quality at Life Science of the University of the Peloponnese, and it began operating as an academic and educational institution in 2003-2004. It is the only University Department in Greece treating the specific study field of Sport Management.

Development

Sports have grown into a business industry, with a huge volume of investments, revenues and profits, the management of which requires highly qualifi ed professionals with specialised knowledge and experience. The development of a professional sports industry, the organisation of sport mega events, the management of modern sports facilities, the management of sports organisations and enterprises have created an increasing demand for trained professionals, adhering to social responsibility and the necessary professionalism, to meet the demands of the growing sports industry in Greece and worldwide.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Sports Organization and Management is to be established as a pioneering academic institution of extraordinary scientific and social contribution, and become a point of reference within the wider range of the scientifi c community. The Department’s mission is to create added value through activities in the following fields:
▶ Science and intellectual cultivation (research, education and scientific culture).
▶ Extroversion and connection with the real labour market and economy in favour of the Department’s students
▶ Open society (contribution to critical refl ection, promotion of principles and ideas of sports, morality, fair play and contribution to local development).
▶ Production capacity of the society (contribution to the economical and social development of the area of Lakonia and the Region of Peloponnese)

Staff

The teaching staff of the Department have a rich scientific work, but also significant academic and research experience from the fields of Sports Management, Economics, Law, Olympic Studies, Communication as well as a wide range of specialisations. Their work is supported by a number of Special Teaching Staff (EEP) and Special Technical Laboratory Staff members (ETEP). Teaching staff members of the Department always care for constant improvement and elevation.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies

The Department of Sports Organization and Management off ers a state-of the-art and flexible curriculum, which leads to the acquisition of a degree in Sport Management, but also provides students with choices for postgraduate studies, as well as doctoral and post-doctoral research in several disciplines of Sport Management. Many fields studied by students in this curriculum are similar with those included in degrees of Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Law, Communication, Education Sciences et al.

However, the Department’s students will learn in particular how all these fi elds apply and adapt to the special needs of the contemporary sports environment, which is affected and formed by current developments and digital transition. Students have the opportunity to also study laws and ethical rules related with the fi eld of sports, as well as particularly important skills, such as the negotiation of a sponsorship agreement for an athlete or the sports facilities management and the organisation of sport mega-events. The Undergraduate Studies last 4 years, and in order to gain the degree, students have to accumulate 240 ECTS-credits.

During the academic year 2021-2022, the Department will also off er 4 Postgraduate Curricula. In particular:

▶ 1. Postgraduate Curriculum “Management of Athletic Organisations and Businesses”
▶ 2. Postgraduate Curriculum “Organisation and Sport Management for People with Disabilities”
▶ 3. Postgraduate Curriculum “Olympic Studies, Olympic Education, Organisation and Management of Olympic Events”
▶ 4. Postgraduate Curriculum “Contemporary Sports Communication, Journalism and Photojournalism”

Moreover, the Department off ers the chance of continuing the studies at a doctoral level, while there is also the opportunity of doing some research at a post-doctoral level.

Accreditation

The Department’s Curriculum is certifi ed by the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency.

Career Prospects

Recognised professional rights

The graduates of the Department can work:
▶ a) as administrative and fi nancial executives in sports companies, sports organisations and other sports bodies, such as, in particular, in sports clubs, associations and federations, sports corporations and departments of paid athletes
▶ b) as administrative and fi nancial executives of sports organisations and companies established by local government organisations
▶ c) as administrative and fi nancial executives of the General Secretariat of Sports, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the Football Prediction Organisation
▶ d) as organisers of sports events of the Ministry of Culture
▶ e) as executives for organising sports activities as animators in hotel units and camps
▶ f) as administrative and fi nancial executives in every public and private enterprise, with the subject of sports activities in whole or in part (Government Gazette 208/2009 issue Α΄ article 1) .

They are also included, among other graduates, for the fi lling of Supreme Staff Selection Board positions of the branch of University Education P.E. in Administration and Finance. (ref. no 17986/8-5-2008 Supreme Staff Selection Board document).

Moreover, they are registered in the Economic Chamber of Greece (ECG meeting: Κ/87/19-2-2013), if the conditions of the Economic Chamber of Greece are met, and they are entitled to participate in examinations in the Body of Certifi ed Public Accountants to obtain the title Certifi ed Public Accountant / Statutory Auditor, and be exempted from the examination of background courses of the professional examinations of article 7 of Law No. 3693/2008 for obtaining the license to practice the profession of Certifi ed Public Accountant / Certifi ed Auditor (according to the regulation of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants).

Lastly, they head the Sports and Nutrition Support Directorate and staff Departments of the “Sports for All” Directorate of the General Directorate of Public Health and Quality of Life (Government Gazette 31/2011 issue Α΄ article 50)

Research

The Department of Sports Organization and Management has 3 established research laboratories, which meet the educational and research needs of the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in any scientific field they cover. Basic aim of the laboratories is to develop scientific knowledge and at the same time produce knowledge in the fi elds of study within which they are active.

Each laboratory operates under the umbrella of the department, supporting in parallel the educational and research activities of the Department in the most modern and effi cient way. The research laboratories are a main branch of the research held not only in the Department, but also in the University of the Peloponnese in general. In particular, there are the following academic laboratories:
▶ 1. Laboratory of Services’ Management & Quality of Life (iSportManagement LAB)
▶ 2. Volunteerism in Sport and Social Services Lab
▶ 3. Running Movement Lab

Based on the wide range of scientifi c study fi elds it covers and through research structures developed in parallel during the last years, the Department participates actively and realises research programmes, either independently or through national and international cooperations with universities, research centres and other institutions, where undergraduate students participate in many cases.

The results of the research are embedded in the teaching process of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Research gives a feedback to and updates teaching procedure signifi cantly. The production of research work, as it is shown in a number of papers published in international journals and conferences through relevant international data bases, is constantly rising during the last years and demonstrates a course of development and expansion of the academic purposes of the Department. Within the framework of its vision and mission, the Department forms and realises a clear research policy, which focuses on the following axes:
▶ 1. Support of research and expansion of research cooperations (e.g. international and national primary research programmes, memoranda of cooperation with academic, institutional and business bodies, establishment of annual one-day conferences for the presentation of research work, organisation of scientific one-day conferences and training programmes, reinforcement of the connection of students with the real market through Internship and Volunteering programmes).
▶ 2. Development of research structures and laboratories (e.g.: founding of Academic Laboratories which will be extremely competitive at a national and international level, creation of intra-institutional Research Networks, i.e. research entities arising from the cooperation of Research Laboratories with related or complementary subjects)
▶ 3. Reinforcement and expansion of Postgraduate Curricula (e.g.: organising and operation of New Postgraduate Curricula, interconnection with universities in order to develop cooperations and with the purpose of doctoral theses preparation in active Research Laboratories and by research groups of the University of the Peloponnese)

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