Greeting of the dean of the School of Human Movement and Quality of Life of the University of Peloponnese for the usefulness of the subject of Sport Management in the modern, economic and social environment.
Sports Science & Sports Management
Sports Science and Sports Management co-operate and welcome you to the Department of Sports Organization & Management (DoSOM) of the University of Peloponnese.
Sport is a human activity developed over thousands of years with multiple uses, such as health, education, socialization, local development and economic activity. In fact, for at least over the last 20 years, sport has been a distinct branch of the economy with a turnover of billions of euros. The development of the professional sport, the creation of innovative services and sport products created the need with regards to the thorough study and management of sport by executives who not only know and possess the concepts and methods of economics and business administration, but they are also aware of the sport specifics and the services that accompany it, which differ greatly from the respective services of other sectors. The most basic feature of sports services is that the participant (the customer) shapes, produces and consumes the "product", which makes them stand out from other services.
Educational Mission & Objectives
The Department of Sports Organization & Management was created with the presidential decree 118/2003, published in the Estates Gazette under the number 102 Α΄/05.05.2003. The educational mission of the Department seeks the following:
- The promotion of knowledge and specialization in the fields of sports science, as well as the organization and administration of sports institutions.
- To ensure a complete and up-to-date scientific training for the students of the Department.
- The creation of the appropriate scientific background to all of the students in order for them to have a scientific and professional career and development.
- To provide them with the specific skills deemed necessary in order to secure their place in the labor market.
- The implementation of research and studies focused on the scientific fields of the Department in order to expand its added value and prestige in the scientific circles.
- The organization and establishment of scientific events and actions in the scientific fields of the Department.
- The expansion of the cooperation and partnerships with scientific and public bodies at international, European and national level.
- The partnership with public sector, local government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector bodies.
- The production of sports scientists who are able to undertake the integrated organization and adequate management and management of sports programs and events at international, European and national level.
- The organization of postgraduate studies in order to create a comparative advantage to qualified sports scientists with regards to the individual subjects of the Department.
Key Thematic Subjects of The Curriculum
The scientific field of sports science in combination with the sports organization and management and the associated sports management lead to the synthesis of a demanding curriculum, which will have the following key subjects:
- Sports Policy
- Strategic Management of Sports Organizations
- Organization of Team and Individual Sports
- Introduction to Sports Betting
- Sports Law
- Economy and Sport
- Organization of Professional and Amateur Sports
- Design and Administration of Sports Facilities
- Management of Sports Events
- Sports Marketing
- Sports Tourism
- Organization and Management of Non-Profit Organizations
- Media and Sport
- Olympic Games and Post-Olympic Games Development
- Organization and Management of Volunteers in Sports.
Postgraduate Specialization Programs
Following and having regard to the undergraduate curriculum, the Department of Sports Organization & Management organizes a series of Postgraduate Studies Programmes, which have a wide acceptance by graduates in a variety of scientific fields.
The Postgraduate Studies Programs, offered by the Department of Sports Organization & Management and conducted in Sparta, are:
- "Management of Sports Organizations & Businesses”
- "Organization and Management of Sports Activities for People with Disabilities”
In addition, the Department of Sports Organization & Management offers two international postgraduate programs, conducted in Olympia, Sparta, which are:
"Olympic Studies, Olympic Education, Organization & Management of Olympic Events”
"Sport Ethics and Integrity" for which 6 universities from the European area (Greece, United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic and Federal Germany) cooperate.
Distinguished Scientific Potential
The members of the faculty and research staff of the Department and specifically the teachers and researchers of the Department are scientists with distinct qualifications in the field of sports science, sports policy, sports organization and administration, administration of governmental and non- governmental organizations, as well as social bodies.
The main concern of the above staff is to contribute to the fulfillment of the mission and objectives of the Department by transferring knowledge, know-how and experience, as well as by linking and establishing relationships with networks and bodies that promote and have as their main point of operation the sports, the sports science, the sports organization and management and the international, European and national relations within this field.
Sports science as a dynamic interdisciplinary field
Sports Science and in particular the science of Sports Management are developing with particular dynamics in an international level, in Europe and in our country (Greece). A characteristic element of Sports Science is its successful combination with the science of management, with the science of Economics, with the science of Finance, with the one of International Relations, as well as with the science of Social Economy and Collaborative Governance.
This multidisciplinary approach aims to develop distinct competencies that all graduates will have in the fields of strategic planning, operational planning, adequate organization, rational financial management and adequate administrative development.
In this way, the aim is to adequately prepare and develop sports scientists with the general and demanding ability to perceive, analyze and manage with efficiency, effectiveness, financial prudence and quality the particular function and organizational structure of the sports bodies and businesses.
Employment Prospects of Sports Scientists
The sports sector is a dynamically developing field in which there is significant and ever-expanding interaction with the government, the local government, businesses, social bodies and citizens. In this way, all stakeholders contribute to the creation of a key economic cycle, which creates and offers to the graduates of the Department significant employment opportunities.
According to the general recruitment department of the Supreme Council of Personnel Selection, graduates of the Department are included in the recruitment for positions of Administrative and Economic personnel, as well as in positions for which the bodies request economics degrees only (PD 177/2009 – Estates Gazette 208 A/02.10.2009).
In addition, under the Decision (P/2/1768 on 20.02.2013) of the central administration of the Economic Chamber of Greece (ECE), the graduates of the Department of Sports Organization and Management, University of Peloponnese (holders of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications), shall be entered as members in the Economic Chamber of Greece and may exercise the profession of an economist, under the specific conditions that are updated by the Economic Chamber.
As the challenge of the employment of the universities graduates in the private and public sector forms an indicator of success, the Department invests in the continuous interconnection with the field of sport in the public and private sector, in society and in the economy and provides its graduates with the necessary scientific knowledge and training to be able to work as:
- Administrative and financial executives in sports enterprises, sports organizations and other sports bodies (e.g. sports clubs, associations and unions, sports limited companies and clubs of paid athletes).
- Administrative and financial executives of sports organizations and enterprises set up by local authorities.
- Administrative and financial executives of the General Secretariat of Sports.
- Executives of management of sports events of the Ministry of Culture.
- Administrative and financial executives of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
- Administrative and financial executives of the Organization of Football Betting (OPAP SA), companies active in the field of sports betting through the internet at international level.
- Executives in organizing sports activities and animators in hotels and camps.
- Administrative and financial executives in any public and private enterprise, which have as an in whole or in part subject sports programmes or sports activities.
Dynamic Present & Strong Prospects
During the 17 years of its operation, the Department of Sports Organization and Management is assessed particularly positively for its continuous actions, provided through the following:
- Internship programs
- Voluntary participation in national and international sports events
- Participation in international educational programmes (Erasmus, etc.)
- Participation in public and private sector research and studies
The aim of the above initiatives is the connection of the students with the sports reality and employment.
As a result of the above actions, the offer of significant professional opportunities for networking, employment and professional development has emerged in leading sports and business bodies in Greece and abroad.
Panagiotis D. Alexopoulos
Dean of the School of Human Movement and quality of life