Sports management: a field of study that's proving its worth at Université Paris-Saclay

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring together nearly 15,000 athletes for 29 days of competition at 61 venues across France. More than 4,000 employees of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOPG) will also be working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the events, including alumni from the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Université Paris-Saclay.

"We have many former students who have joined the OCOPG. Some students from this year's graduating classes are also doing their internships there," confirms Christopher Hautbois, Dean of the Faculty. "It's a source of pride for us to see them pursuing a professional career that matches their aspirations. It gives us a sense of accomplishment." One of the Faculty's missions is indeed to provide education for professions linked to the management and organisation of physical and sporting activities for all types of audiences, which is why it offers a full pathway focusing on sports management.

Degrees with an established reputation

The pathway is part of the STAPS (Science and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities) field of study and starts at undergraduate level. "Specialisation in sports management begins in the second year of the degree, then continues in the third year with courses entirely focused on this field," adds the Dean and professor at the Faculty. Once they have obtained their bachelor's degree, graduates have the option of continuing their studies at Master's level, with two possible specialisations in the second year: on the one hand, the SLEM (Sport, leisure and event management) pathway, and on the other, the PPSOS (Public Policies and Strategies of Sports Organisations) pathway.

"The 2nd year Master's degree SLEM prepares students for careers in sports events, sports marketing, sports sales, sponsorship and event organisation, while the 2nd year Master's degree PPSOS prepares them to work on public policy or in sports organisations such as federations," explains Michel Desbordes, professor and head of the 2nd year Master's degree SLEM. Like the second one, this first degree is not new. SLEM was created in 1999, and PPSOS in 2004. And both have made a name for themselves. While the number of sports management courses has multiplied in recent years, particularly in business schools, "our track record and reputation are our strong points," asserts Michel Desbordes. All the more so given that both education pathways have evolved over time.

Since 2020, the 2nd year Master's degree SLEM, for example, has been entirely taught in English. "In the world of sports management, working teams have become much more globalised. By following the careers of our alumni, we realised that a lack of English could be a barrier," the head explains. In the wake of this adjustment, international students are now joining the Master's programme.

Gaining exposure to the professional sector as early as possible

"Whatever pathway they follow, we want to give everyone the chance to experience the professional sector as early as possible," explains Christopher Hautbois. This is another crucial aspect of the Sports Management field of study. "Thanks to our location in the Paris region, we've built up a very extensive professional network," adds Michel Desbordes. Every year, speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds come to share their experiences with the different classes. But, more than anything, this discovery of the professional sector involves internships, from the third year of the undergraduate degree right through to the Master's degree.

"The SLEM pathway is divided into a six-month course and a six-month internship. And the PPSOS pathway is available as a work-study programme," explains the Dean of the Faculty. Similarly, right from undergraduate degree level, the courses include numerous projects, including the famous Noctiraid. Organised for the last fifteen years by the 2nd year Master's degree SLEM students, this night-time team raid, combining trail running, mountain biking, orienteering, shooting and a bike & run, attracts some 300 participants every year.

"It's really in the DNA of this Master's programme to educate its students in the organisation of major sporting events. There aren't always Olympic and Paralympic Games, but, including in France, there are always international sporting events to be organised somewhere," explains Christopher Hautbois. "Thanks to our alumni network, we often hear from each other. And this confirms that we have a remarkable rate of professional integration."

Learn more :

• Website of the Faculty of Sports Sciences : www.faculte-sciences-sport.universite-paris-saclay.fr
• Master's degree SLEM (Sport, leisure and event management) : https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/human-movement-sport-sciences-sport-management/m2-slem
• Master's degree PPSOS (Public Policies and Strategies of Sports Organisations) : https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/human-movement-sport-sciences-sport-management/m2-ppsos

This article was originally published in L'Edition No. 24.
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