USW and FAW unveil crucial partnership for Welsh football

Dr Ben Calvert, Vice-Chancellor for USW, and Noel Mooney, CEO, Football Association Wales

University of South Wales (USW) and Football Association Wales (FAW) renewed their partnership, for another five years, in the presence of Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport.

USW is one of the largest academic providers of football degree courses across the UK with over 800 students studying a range of football courses. The association with FAW is unique in providing a distinctive offer through these market-leading courses.

Furthermore, the undergraduate and postgraduate courses have been co-designed with the FAW, embedding internationally recognised, football coaching licences (such as the UEFA B and A licences) into the curriculum. The integration of professional qualifications is one of the core strands of the partnership, with USW being the only UK university providing this, producing highly employable graduates.

Community engagement is also an integral aspect of the partnership. Football coaching students annually deliver over 5000 work-based learning hours, supporting FAW placements and grass roots community football initiatives. Additionally, they volunteer a further 5000 hours a year.

The launch was hosted at USW’s Sport Park on Tuesday 16 November. Chaired by USW’s Professor Brendan Cropley, the event included a panel discussion with Gemma Grainger, Wales Women National Team Manager, Gavin Chesterfield, Course Leader at USW, and National Coach Education Training Manager, FAW, Noel Mooney, CEO, FAW and Dave Adams, Technical Director, FAW.

Noel Mooney, CEO FAW, said: “We will benefit from the evidence and insights from USW’s research, providing impactful research supporting innovation and development. We want to be thought leaders in world football, making evidence-based decisions on and off the pitch. Partnerships like this are the essence of what we do.”

Dr Ben Calvert, USW’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are extremely proud of our partnership with FAW. At USW, we place partnerships are at the heart of everything we do, and they form a key part of our USW 2030 strategy.

“UEFA reported that football has contributed over £550 million a year to Wales. Therefore, the University, in producing professionally accredited graduates is supporting the growth of the economy. We eagerly look forward to the next five years of the partnership.”

Deputy Minister, Dawn Bowden MS, said: “A key feature of our Programme for Government is our commitments on equal access to sport, supporting young people and grassroots clubs, and facility investment.

“Our commitment to grassroots is the basic building blocks for our wider success as a nation on the world stage. And we have seen the positive strides our national teams – both women’s and men’s – have been taking in their recent respective campaigns.

“Modern, accessible and sustainable facilities are crucial to encourage people into sport or back into sport, and I can see why domestic and visiting teams would want to train here at the University’s Sport Park. The Welsh Government will continue to invest in sports facilities across Wales to ensure equal access and to support our talented athletes and coaches, wherever they live and whatever their background.

“I wish this partnership every success for the future.”