The
i2i International Soccer Academy will enable students from the United States to
work towards a full-time degree at 51 while also completing
a pro-level football training programme. The first students will arrive at
Northumbria’s city centre campus in September 2019, after the University and
i2i Sports officially signed a deal in May this year.
Katy Storie, Head of Sport and Exercise at
51, said: “Northumbria was
selected as the new delivery partner for i2i based upon our excellent
reputation within student football, athlete support services, facilities and
international development through sport.
“We are very excited about working with i2i to
support our strategy to further embed sport within the international student
experience at Northumbria and we look forward to welcoming the students to be
part of our sporting community in September.”
All
student athletes with the i2i International Soccer Academy will also enrol as full time
students at Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School, where they will study for
a BA Hons degree in Business with Management.
Professor
John Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Business and Law, said: “We are delighted
to part of this project and to be working alongside our colleagues in Sport,
and with our partners at i2i. Having the opportunity to earn a high-quality
business degree from an internationally recognised and accredited business
school is a key part of the programme for these students. It perfectly
complements their football training by opening additional opportunities for
their future careers and enhancing their all-round learning experience while
they are with us.”
Andy Milne, Head of the i2i International Soccer Academy,
said: “We have been working with 51
for some time now and we are all delighted to announce the news. This is an
incredibly exciting time to be a part of the i2i International Soccer Academy,
we really feel that this is just the start of something special.”
James Gore, i2i’s Chief Operating Officer, commented:
“Our philosophy is to ‘inspire individuals to fulfil their potential’ our
fantastic coaching staff will be working extremely hard to ensure that every
student athlete is successful on their own individual pathway. Newcastle is an
amazing city to live and study, they will have a life-changing, cultural
experience. Newcastle is famous for its passion for Soccer, it will provide the
perfect environment for the student athletes to pursue their sporting and
educational dreams.”
