Sports students at the University of Stirling are joining the backroom staff of Rangers Football Club thanks to a unique partnership.
Stirling University has partnered with the Scottish Premiership football team for its MPhil Performance Analysis course, marking the first collaboration of its kind in Scotland. This partnership allows students to fully immerse themselves in the coaching staff of Rangers and acquire invaluable experience in a professional sporting environment.
Dr. David Stevenson, a lecturer in sport management at the University of Stirling, is the one who formed this special collaboration.
He said: “The collaboration is about giving students hands-on work experience in high-performance sport, as well as promoting the opportunities available in Scotland and retaining talent in the region.
In addition to working on an individual research project, students will assist the performance analysis personnel by applying their academic skills to work alongside Rangers’ first teams and youth development programmes.
“There is no question that being a part of a setup like the Rangers provides an unmatched educational opportunity and will position our students for success in the sports industry.”
Ten Stirling undergraduate students participated in a work experience scheme with Rangers last year, and the formal relationship with the one-year Masters degree comes after that.
Rangers Football Club Academy Director Zeb Jacobs stated: “I am incredibly proud of our long-lasting and vibrant partnership with the University of Stirling.” This alliance is a powerful means of providing young kids with the chance to flourish in our stimulating environment; it goes beyond simple cooperation.
Working with leading professionals across departments, our students are not only ready for the difficulties of the present, but they are also gaining knowledge and experience that will help them succeed for the rest of their lives. This partnership is evidence of our dedication to quality work and the promising future of our youth.
“I’ve been given great exposure to so many talented people already and have the freedom to work on the areas that really interest me,” MPhil Performance Analysis student Ross Ireland said. “I’ve worked with the under 18s coaches, prepared and presented data and analysis to players and coaching staff, and provided educational analysis sessions to academy players.”
“This year will not only boost my skills and confidence, but it will also really prepare me for a career in high performance sport,” the participant said. “The opportunity has opened my eyes to the wide range of roles available in professional sport.”
Andrew Smyth, who also joined Rangers via the MPhil, stated: “I’ve always enjoyed football as a passion, so to get the opportunity to work for a team as large as
Rangers has one of the top academy performance analysis departments in the country. I’m incredibly excited about the practical job experience and, ideally, for my research project to produce a study that will benefit the club.
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