Students graduate in Nyon

A successful first edition of the UEFA Certificate in Football Management (UEFA CFM) – in which UEFA is helping national association staff to acquire new management skills – has come to an end.

After passing their final examinations, 30 participants were awarded their certificates at a graduation ceremony at the House of European Football in Nyon. Candidates came from Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, England, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales, as well as from UEFA itself.

"Contributing to the professional management of football across Europe has long been one of UEFA's goals," said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino. "Over the last few years UEFA has increasingly engaged with the academic community by establishing a series of initiatives to assist the European football family to reach more informed decisions.

"The UEFA CFM is an excellent opportunity to develop professionally and acquire new management skills specific to this sport. Thanks to this programme, we hope to support staff of UEFA's national associations in the development of their managerial career and in encouraging trustful exchanges among associations."

The foundation course comprises nine two-day modules, six of which are done from distance (elearning) while the other three involve face-to-face contact. Each module addresses a key area of national football association management and is prepared and run by internationally renowned academic experts.

The UEFA CFM spans a period of ten months from September to June. The certificates are issued through the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) at the University of Lausanne. Every module focuses on one important aspect: the organisation of European and world football, strategic and performance management, operational management, event management, marketing and sponsorship, internal and external communication.

The UEFA CFM stands as the first step, followed by the UEFA Diploma in Football Management (UEFA DFM), in UEFA's three-stage education programme building up to the Executive Master in European Sport Governance (MESGO).

The UEFA CFM programme is linked to UEFA's Knowledge & Information Sharing Scenario (KISS) and aims to help the UEFA member associations enhance and increase their knowledge and management of sports, particularly football.

Presidents and general secretaries of national associations can recommend each year up to two members of their staff as candidates for the UEFA CFM. A committee will then select up to 30 candidates for the course.