Aston Villa Women is excited to share its visionary project in establishing a dual-careers model within the Club. This model puts education at the heart of our operation, ensuring we provide the opportunity for players to play at the highest standard whilst developing a viable career path for their respective futures.
Aston University has been an essential partner in this process and have been fantastic in facilitating the enrolment of three first-team players on various programmes and courses.
Not only have they developed an Elite Athletes Programme (EAP) to support the flexibility our players' need for study; they have also created the Women’s Leadership Programme which Diana Silva intends to enter in 2021.
The Women’s Leadership Programme has a stream of components centred around women’s leadership, such as leadership theory, leading high-performing teams and leading in times of change; with the end qualification being a BSC in Leadership and Management.
Through this model, we hope to eliminate the difficult choice that many girls and women have had to make, and continue to make, between professional football and another career choice.
By removing this barrier, we also aim to increase and support the diversification of talent into the game both on and off the field.
Aston Villa Women Sporting Director, Eni Aluko said:
“I am proud and excited to announce our dual-careers model ‘Students of the Game’ at Aston Villa Women which will see the club directly sponsor the education of our professional women’s players in partnership with Aston University. I understand and have experienced first-hand the importance of education to the future career security and personal development of female footballers.
This programme will allow our professional players to combine football with higher education, removing the difficult choice between the two. The Students of the Game programme will also uniquely position Aston Villa Women to competitively recruit young English players who have traditionally been attracted to the educational/football offering of the US college system and attract international players who can now earn dual-degree accreditations whilst playing for Aston Villa Women. I would like to thank Aston University for their commitment to professional player education and making this partnership model possible”
Aston University’s Executive Director of Business Engagement Mark Smith said:
“Elite athletes need expert support, and Aston University is delighted to have partnered with Aston Villa Women on the development of this programme, which ensures that both on and off-field opportunities can be optimised. The programme, which has been designed by the Aston Business School team of Dr Keith Schofield and Professor Jo Andrews, is structured to ensure students can learn flexibly in-line with the demands of a busy playing agenda. Aston University prides itself on its ability to meet the needs of the business community and is pleased to have risen to the challenge laid down by Aston Villa Women: to help them bring out the very best in their players.
David Faulkner, The FA Head of Performance – Women’s Professional Game said:
“I applaud Aston Villa Women in launching the 'Students of the Game' dual-career model. Providing the opportunity to combine their players’ professional ambitions with an integrated education and personal development programme with Aston University ensures that their players’ off-field development is being looked after, which will positively impact their wellbeing and lifestyle. This is a great example of how clubs can work closely together with Higher Education to enhance player support and that their life after football is being prioritised alongside their professional career."
As a Club, we are proud of the foundation we have created so far. We are equally excited to see how we can enhance and develop this model into the future.
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.
For media inquiries in relation to Aston University, contact Sue Smith or Rebecca Hume, Press & PR Officer,
on 07557 745416 or email r.hume@aston.ac.uk.
