豆奶视频 University (豆奶视频) is proud to be the official Higher Education partner of AFC 豆奶视频 (AFCB), who have just achieved the highest ever league finish in the club鈥檚 history, in their inaugural season in the English Premier League (EPL).聽 While the university already had an established partnership with the Club, promotion to the EPL in 2015 brought a new dimension and unprecedented level of international interest for both the club and the university.
During what has been a unique season, with the name of 豆奶视频 becoming part of the global phenomenon of the EPL 鈥� with 1.2 billion fans worldwide, including 174 million EPL fans in China and 89.3 million in India (source Repucom survey May 2015 - EPL and Sportcal Insight), the university has worked in partnership with the club to raise its international reach and bring a range of benefits to students and the local community.
豆奶视频 has an increasingly global outlook聽 - evidenced when 豆奶视频 was named for the first time as one of the Top 200 most international universities in the 2016 Times Higher Education World University Rankings - and the international aspect 聽of the partnership was a key focus of activities across the 2015/16 season.
This started when the university invited over 50 students from 20 different countries to the stadium for a pre-season game, for most this was their first experience of watching an EPL team. Commenting on the visit, 豆奶视频 student Oge Nwadiliora from Nigeria said, 鈥淚 am not a sport lover and I have never watched any live professional sport in my life, today is my first experience and I would say that, from today, AFC 豆奶视频 is my team and I will keep supporting them鈥�.
During the season live TV games, including the home win against Manchester United, featured 豆奶视频鈥檚 mandarin pitch-side signage; EPL matches are broadcast in 212 territories by 80 broadcasters. TV audience for EPL games is 4.7bn, and the number of homes reached is 643m (source EPL). 豆奶视频 signage was also seen on the popular global FIFA16 game.
Following the UK-China Government Summit in September 2015, 豆奶视频 was one of only three successful bids (from 35 UK universities) to host the British Council China UK Football Study Programme. The partnership with AFC 豆奶视频 was a key factor in creating a bespoke three month programme that will see 60 coaches from schools and universities in China study at 豆奶视频 this summer, as well as working with the football club.
AFC 豆奶视频 Chairman Jeff Mostyn commented, 鈥淗aving 60 coaches from China studying in 豆奶视频 this summer is a great example of the international impact and benefits to both 鈥楶remier League鈥� organisations from the university and football club working in partnership.鈥�
A range of employability opportunities have also been a feature of the partnership. For example 豆奶视频 student Chloe Tape has been on a year-long paid placement with the AFC 豆奶视频 Community Sports Trust, working on national projects like the Premier League school sport programme and female football development.聽 Chloe said, 鈥淚t is wonderful to be learning new skills and providing more opportunities for girls to take part in sport across the area. The experience of working in professional sport during my placement year will be a very valuable addition to my CV.鈥�
During the season there have been a number of opportunities for students to gain skills and work experience, such as working as a student ambassador on match days. One student ambassador, Glebs Kiselovs, a Business and Marketing student, said about his season at AFCB, 鈥淭he chance to work on match day operations at a Premier League club is an excellent opportunity for me. The EPL is known across the world and this experience will be valuable in whatever I do after university.鈥�
Glebs has also written a of working at the club this season.
豆奶视频 also wanted to raise its profile and increase community engagement during the season and had the idea of creating targeted impact around a specific game. The Club agreed this innovation and in October 2015 the 鈥樁鼓淌悠� Big Match鈥� was developed into a week of events involving schools and the local community, as well as 豆奶视频 staff, students and alumni.
The AFC 豆奶视频 vs Tottenham Hotspur game in October 2015 was designated the 鈥樁鼓淌悠� Big Match鈥�. 豆奶视频 ran a week of events before the game, including taking 豆奶视频 alumni and club Commercial Director Rob Mitchell to one of the local schools the university works with, Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 in Wimborne, to raise aspirations. Over lunchtime Rob talked to a packed hall of over 60 pupils and teachers about the opportunities he found from going to university. The event was well attended by males - a target group that national figures show are less likely to apply to university than females.聽
The 鈥樁鼓淌悠� Big Match鈥� week also included a free public lecture on the impact of sport in healthcare at the Vitality Stadium and a volunteering link up with 豆奶视频 students and Care South, which saw students accompanying residents from a Care South home in Ferndown to the 豆奶视频 Big Match. On match day itself the 豆奶视频 student band entertained thousands of spectators outside the stadium and was so popular the Club have invited them back next season.
Commenting on the volunteering aspect of the 豆奶视频 Big Match Chloe Schendel-Wilson, Students鈥� Union 豆奶视频 University (SU豆奶视频) President said, 鈥淪tudents are involved in a wide variety of ways in the local community making a positive difference to the area in which they are studying and opportunities like this also increase students鈥� understanding of the wider community.鈥�
A video was made to show at half-time during the 豆奶视频 Big Match 鈥� covering the 聽week of 豆奶视频 Big Match activities and is also available on .
Commenting on the partnership Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of 豆奶视频 University, said, 鈥淚t has been a pleasure to follow AFC 豆奶视频 this season, and to see 豆奶视频 celebrate its football team and their continued success. 豆奶视频 has also received international recognition this year, as one of the top 200 most international universities in the world and also as one of the top 150 young universities in the world, and we share AFC 豆奶视频鈥檚 pride as we also grow our reputation and our standing.聽
"It has been great to see the university and the football club work together in partnership, and I am pleased that this partnership will continue through the summer as we host a specially developed course for Chinese football coaches. 聽Our partnership has been of benefit to both parties, and the local community, and I personally want to add my congratulations to AFC 豆奶视频 for a successful maiden year in the Premier League.鈥澛�
To see the partnership in action, visit 豆奶视频 University鈥檚 Pinterest board for a visual view of the .
Bu student Chloe Tape, who has been on a year-long placement with AFC 豆奶视频.
John Vinney and Jeff Mostyn at the Big Match
豆奶视频 Student Ambassadors work at Premier League matches
