Ireland’s reputation as a world leader in sports analytics and performance data got a significant boost yesterday with the launch of the country’s first-ever postgraduate course designed for industry professionals seeking cutting-edge knowledge in the business of sports.
The new Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation, is the result of a strategic collaboration between Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, SportsTech Ireland, and Technological University Dublin’s Enterprise Academy.
A rapidly growing sportstech industry in Ireland is driven by advances including AI, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and biometrics, with the drive to extract business value and performance from sports data at its core.
The unique 12-month programme was created by TU Dublin’s Enterprise Academy which brought together expertise from four academic faculties. It is specifically tailored to meet the growing demands of the world’s sports technology sector, an estimated €650 billion a year industry which is anticipated to grow by much as 20% a year between now and 2030.
Already industry professionals from organisations including Flutter, Stats Perform, the FAI, World Rugby, Epic Global, Badminton Ireland, and others, have signed up, bridging fan engagement, media, sports data, sports performance, and esports.
Beginning in April, participants will tackle three key challenges facing the sports industry; digital transformation in the business of sport; sports data for performance and innovation, and effectively harnessing sports technology.
“This exciting programme addresses the surging demands of the growing sports technology sector,” said Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
“Ireland has doubled its sportstech foreign direct investment in the past three years, and this Diploma aims to further fuel this success by nurturing skilled talent. This is indeed good news for our nation’s technological and sporting advancement.”
“This is a gamechanger for professionals working in the sports technology sector and related sectors,” added Máire Hunt, Network Director, Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet.
Our applicants include data analytics and technology professionals, business professionals, entrepreneurs or leaders sports organisations, performance experts and former athletes interested in the accelerated commercial potential of sports technology.”
“I am confident that the new Postgrad Diploma and Masters will help foster a community of Irish sportstech leaders, bolstering Ireland’s global presence in sports technology,” said Grainne Barry, Founder of SportsTech Ireland and SVP Operations for Stats Perform.
“Creating a highly qualified and specialist pipeline of talent in Ireland will enable us to remain at the forefront of this global industry.”
“The sportstech industry globally – and in Ireland – continues to grow at a remarkable pace,” said Dr Kieran Collins, Academic Lead at TU Dublin. “Irish sports tech companies have established themselves as pioneers in innovation, harnessing data and technology, revolutionising how athletes and teams perform, recover and engage with fans.”
Listen back to our Podcast with Dr Kieran Collins talking about the sector and the course.
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