RMIT: Essendon Football Club and RMIT offer pathway to business career
The new dual Diploma of Business/Diploma of Leadership and Management will give students access to Essendon’s world-class, high-performance facilities and industry experts.
They will also gain extensive and practical insights into the operations of an AFL club, across the men’s and women’s football programs.
Based at the NEC Hangar, students will complete the unique year-long program run by Essendon Education Academy (EEA), with a minimum of two guaranteed graduate roles at the Essendon Football Club following course completion.
Throughout the full-time program, participants will build a network and develop connections in the sport industry as they complete 100 hours of real-life work experience across Essendon’s various departments and partner network.
RMIT’s College of Vocational Education Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Mish Eastman said the course will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to operate or manage a business, while receiving the added bonus of a ‘sports lens’, to prepare them for work within the sporting arena.
“RMIT’s renewed partnership with Essendon Football Club highlights the value in providing tangible opportunities for students to learn, while offering a unique vocational course to the community,” she said.
“This is what RMIT’s College of Vocational Education does so well – provides lifelong learning and upskilling opportunities to the community in key areas of demand.
“We are looking forward to this exciting journey ahead with Essendon.”
Combining a variety of teaching methods, including face-to-face, online, and self-directed study, the EEA will provide students with the foundations and learnings required to work in an elite sporting environment or in the broader business world.
At the completion of the course, students will have pathway options into undergraduate programs at RMIT.
Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said the club was thrilled to further enhance their partnership with RMIT and provide students with the first step for a career in elite sport.
“Essendon Football Club and RMIT are excited to build on their existing partnership to combine sport with business and help students start their careers,” Campbell said.
“By partnering with RMIT, we can provide students with a unique education experience where they can learn important business, leadership and management skills while immersing themselves in an elite sporting environment.
“This innovative course will allow students to learn from industry experts, including our own high-performance staff, to develop the fundamental skills required for what we hope will be a long and successful career in either business or sport.
“It’s very exciting for students to have the opportunity to be based at our newly developed facilities at the NEC Hangar and learn about the operations of a football club.
“Students will be entrenched in sport and exposed to different areas of the club throughout their educational experience.”