Great Support for the Future of Sports

The Sports Management Program, launched by İzmir University of Economics (IUE) to contribute to the development of Turkish sports and the training of professional managers, has produced its first graduates. Implemented with the support of Göztepe Sports Club, the program brought together 41 participants who received training from 32 instructors across different modules. The participants received their certificates at a ceremony held on campus. Among those who successfully completed the certificate program were well-known figures from the football world, including İsmail Köybaşı, Deniz Kadah, Ceyhun Gülselam, and Tolga Ünlü. Speaking at the ceremony, IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu said, “The Sports Management Program went beyond the traditional certificate approach and offered an exemplary, next-generation learning model based on skills, practice, and evidence.”

Launched on January 19, 2026, the Sports Management Program aimed to train managers who can respond to the changing needs of the sports industry. Participants received 80 hours of online training and 32 hours of face-to-face applied training in 9 different modules designed with a focus on professional competencies. Offering a multidimensional learning experience in areas such as sports management, organizational structures, sports economics, sponsorship and brand management, digital communication, fan experience, sustainability, governance, data-based decision-making, and sports ecosystem design, the program became an exemplary educational model extending from İzmir to Türkiye.

The closing ceremony of the Sports Management Program was held in the open area in front of Block D on campus. İzmir Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman of the Board and IUE Board of Trustees Member Emre Kızılgüneşler, Göztepe Sports Club Honorary President Mehmet Sepil, and Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu presented the certificates to the participants.

‘STRONG PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION’

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu thanked everyone who contributed to the realization of the program and said: “One of the prominent aspects of the program is that it was designed in line with the micro-credential approach. Within this approach, participants did not merely acquire knowledge throughout the process; they also made their competencies visible through concrete tasks, practical outputs, and performance-based studies. Throughout the program, industry professionals, academics, and practitioners came together. Participants also had the opportunity to access a strong network of professional interaction and experience. The field experience and practical visits held at Gürsel Aksel Stadium made an important contribution to taking learning beyond the classroom environment. I sincerely congratulate everyone who successfully completed the program.”

“IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE PROCESS”

Famous footballer İsmail Köybaşı, one of the participants who completed the Sports Management Program, also delivered a speech, emphasizing that a very enjoyable learning environment had been provided for the participants for nearly four months. Köybaşı said: “The Sports Management Program provided us with highly valuable knowledge. It was a very productive process for all of us. We enjoyed every moment we spent here and experienced the privilege of being part of this program. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who brought this program to life and created such a qualified platform for us.”