Goal! New programme launched to drive development of Ireland’s sports tech skills and talent
Ireland's reputation as a world leader in sports analytics and performance data got a significant boost yesterday (Tuesday) with the launch of the country's first-ever postgraduate course designed for industry professionals seeking cutting-edge knowledge in the business of sports.
A rapidly growing sports-tech 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 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.
The unique 12-month programme was created by TU Dublin's Enterprise Academy, which brought together expertise from three academic faculties. It is specifically tailored to meet the growing demands of the world's sports technology sector, an estimated €650 billion industry that is anticipated to grow by as much as 20% a year between now and 2030.
Already industry professionals from organisations including the Flutter, Stats Perform, FAI, World Rugby, Epic Global, Badminton Ireland and others, have signed up, bridging fan engagement, media, sports data, sports performance, 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.
Launching the programme yesterday (March 5th, 2024) at TU Dublin, Grangegorman Campus, Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said:
“This exciting programme addresses the surging demands of the growing sports technology sector. Ireland has doubled its sports-tech 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.”
Máire Hunt, Network Director, Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, said the new programme is designed for experienced professionals working at the intersection of technology, data, and innovation.
"This is a game-changer for professionals working in the sports technology sector and related sectors. Our applicants include data analytics and technology professionals, business professionals, entrepreneurs or leaders of sports organisations, performance experts and former athletes interested in the accelerated commercial potential of sports technology."
Spearheaded by the Enterprise Academy at TU Dublin, Ireland's largest technological university, the programme is delivered by the School of Biological, Health, and Sports Sciences in conjunction with the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Computing, Digital, and Data and aims to build a community of Irish sports-tech leaders.
Dr Claire McBride, Head of the Enterprise Academy at TU Dublin, said: “Key business decisions and tech product innovations are driven by analytics. State of the art skills are essential to generate business value for the sportstech sector. Having the right industry-education partnerships and networks connected by the Enterprise Academy provides the lynchpin for such cutting edge and business aligned programmes.”
Commenting, Grainne Barry, Founder of SportsTech Ireland and SVP Operations for Stats Perform, said: "I am confident that the new Postgrad Diploma and Masters will help foster a community of Irish sports-tech leaders, bolstering Ireland's global presence in sports technology. Creating a highly qualified and specialist pipeline of talent in Ireland will enable us to remain at the forefront of this global industry".
Commenting, Dr. Kieran Collins, Academic Lead at TU Dublin, said: "The sportstech industry globally- and in Ireland - continues to grow at a remarkable pace. 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.