Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation Programme
Addressing a Critical Skills Gap in the SportsTech Sector
Ireland’s SportsTech sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological innovation, increasing global investment, and a strong national affinity for sport. With more than 60,000 people employed in the broader sports industry and approximately 10,000 professionals working directly in SportsTech; the sector is fast becoming a cornerstone of Ireland’s innovation economy.
Major international players such as Flutter Entertainment (1,700 employees in Dublin), StatsPerform (385), and DraftKings (300) have established significant operations here, alongside leading Irish startups like Kitman Labs, which employs around 100 people. These companies are leveraging Ireland’s world-class technology infrastructure and talent pool to develop cutting-edge solutions in performance analytics, fan engagement, and digital sports platforms.
According to Maire Hunt Director of the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet
“Ireland’s thriving ICT sector, which employed 165,000 people in 2023, presents a substantial opportunity for cross-sector growth. 60% of Irish people are interested in sports according to a KPMG report, and it is estimated that 15–20% of ICT professionals approximately 24,000 individuals are actively seeking to upskill or transition into SportsTech roles”.
The Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet has been working with SportsTech Ireland to analyse, understand and address the specific skill set needed to establish Ireland as the European hub for Sports Technology and Innovation. Working together SportsTech Ireland and Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet collaborated initially on a Digital Athlete programme to give women returners the data skills and SportsTech industry knowledge to join the sector. Following the success of the first programme the two organisations partnered to bring Transform (a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Transformation and Innovation) to both SportsTech and sports companies with 25 NGO’s completing the programme in 2024.
Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet in partnership with SportsTech Ireland, conducted a review of the sector in 2022. One of the conclusions that was unlocking the full potential of SportsTech innovation in Ireland was the shortage of professionals who are equipped to commercialise sports technologies effectively and harness data to derive meaningful insights from sports data.
According to Máire Hunt “Our report showed that creating a pool of professional SportsTech specialists will be essential to sustaining growth, attracting investment, and positioning Ireland as a global leader in SportsTech”.
Strategic Collaboration: A Model for Industry / Academic Programme Co-Design
The Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet formed a SportsTech Advisory group representing companies across the sector. This group scoped the key requirements for the programme and a public tender was issued for the design and pilot delivery of a level 9 programme in Sports Technology, Analytics and Innovation. A programme tender was issued by Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet. TU Dublin’s Enterprise Academy played a pivotal role in coordinating the tender response bringing together four TU Dublin schools, led by the School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences.
The winning university was Technological University Dublin and a new strategic skills partnership for SportsTech in Ireland was formed. Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet provided the strategic direction and funding for the programme, SportsTech Ireland contributed deep sector insights, and as academic partner, TU Dublin Enterprise Academy co-ordinated the Universities’ schools and disciplines.
The co-creation of the Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation, a first-of-its-kind programme exemplifies the power of university-industry collaboration.
Peter Lynch, Senior Engagement Manager at the Enterprise Academy, notes:
“This programme was more complex than most, involving multiple academic units and external partners. The Enterprise Academy’s ability to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration was key to delivering a high-impact programme in record time.”
The collaboration was iterative and deeply consultative co-design a curriculum that that twinned academic rigor with relevance to industry, through an active and interactive co-creation process with our two industry partners – Digital Skillnet and SportsTech Ireland. Initial drafts of the programme were refined through multiple feedback sessions. This agile, responsive approach ensured the programme was tailored to the real-world needs of SportsTech professionals, balancing technical depth with commercial acumen.
In 2024 the Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation commenced with 24 sector professionals participating from a range of SportsTech companies, National Governing bodies, sports commentators and journalism, sports marketing and data analysts. In 2025, this was expanded to an additional 30 credit project-based extension to attain a full MSc.
Sector-Led Innovation: Meeting Real Industry Needs
Gráinne Barry, co-founder of SportsTech Ireland and SVP, Operations Stats Perform, Chaired the Advisory Group and emphasises the sector’s need for a formal, applied learning pathway:
“There were plenty of sports programmes and plenty of technology programmes but none that combined both. We needed something that could bring together the sports professionals and the tech-savvy minds. TU Dublin had the cross-disciplinary expertise to create an advanced accredited programme that would meet the specific needs of SportsTech.”
Barry highlights the programme’s applied nature as its defining strength:
“What stands out from this new programme is applicability. Learners can take what they are studying and apply it directly to their immediate business challenges, whether in performance, fan engagement, or innovation. That’s where the programme has excelled’.
Accreditation: A Cornerstone of Credibility and Impact
Accreditation was a critical factor for all stakeholders. For industry partners, it provided assurance of academic quality, transferable learning outcomes, and international recognition. For learners, many of whom are mid-career professionals, it offered a formal qualification that could support career progression, critical fluency/thinking, leadership development, and entry into new markets.
Dr. Claire Mc Bride, Head of the Enterprise Academy, explains:
“Accreditation is not just a stamp of approval; it is a strategic asset. It validates the programme’s quality in the eyes of employers, ensures alignment with national frameworks, and gives learners confidence that their investment of time and effort will yield tangible, lifelong career benefits.”
The programme builds on the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet and Technological University Dublin’s track record of developing ground-breaking accredited, industry-led education, including its globally recognised Postgraduate Diploma in Product Management. This legacy of excellence helped to reinforce trust among partners and accelerate the programme’s adoption.
A Programme Built for Professionals
Designed specifically for part-time professional learners, the programme accommodates the unique schedules and learning needs of sports professionals and technologists. Delivered on Thursdays and Fridays to avoid conflicts with weekend sporting commitments, the course fosters a dynamic learning environment by bringing together a diverse cohort, from elite athletes and sports organisation leaders to technologists and startup founders.
Programme Chair Dr. Kieran Collins highlights the curriculum’s focus on the business of sport, noting its distinctiveness:
“Unlike other sectors, sport isn’t solely profit-driven. Success is measured in wins, fan engagement, and long-term club value. Our programme teaches participants how to create return on investment through technology, while keeping the human at the centre of innovation.”
The curriculum spans strategic business models, design thinking, digital transformation, sports intelligence systems, human factors, and emerging technologies such as AI, computer vision, and IoT. This holistic approach prepares learners to lead innovation within their organisations and across the broader SportsTech ecosystem.
Impact on Learners and the Sector
The inaugural cohort included professionals from global SportsTech firms, national sporting bodies, and adjacent tech sectors. Their feedback underscores the programme’s transformative impact.
Kate Harris, Vice President of AI Operations at Stats Perform, credits the Diploma with enhancing her strategic capabilities:
“This diploma came at the perfect time in my career. It’s not just about sport; it’s about evolving business models, driving innovation, and delivering value. The course has sharpened my ability to think strategically and translate complex innovation into actionable outcomes, enabling me to confidently engage with high-level tech teams and deliver meaningful transformation within the business.”
Gráinne Barry echoes this sentiment from an employer’s perspective:
“We’ve had colleagues from Stats Perform take part in the programme, and we’ve seen the benefit in the business. It’s helping us upskill and reskill employees in a way that’s aligned with our leadership in AI and data.”
Graduates have transitioned into C-suite roles, launched new ventures, and embedded innovation within their organisations. The programme’s success is reflected in its high completion rate and the enthusiastic support from industry partners.
Máire Hunt, Director of Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, highlights the programme’s broader value to the technology sector:
“The measure of success is in the durability of the programme and the benefits to learners and their employers. The fact that other institutions are now following suit shows that sports technology is being recognised as an industry worth investing in.”
Looking Ahead
Following the success of the first postgraduate Diplomas cohort, the strategic partners have developed a Master’s extension, launching in 2025, further deepening the pipeline of leadership talent in SportsTech.
Máire Hunt. Director Digital Skillnet summarises the achievement:
“The Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation programme exemplifies what’s possible when academia and industry co-design education. The process was fast, responsive, and impactful, and it is making a critical contribution to our strategic vision- to help shape the future of SportsTech in Ireland and beyond.”
For more information on the programme and to submit an expression of interest, visit:
https://www.digitalskillnet.ie/postgraduate-diploma-in-sports-analytics-technology-and-innovation/