Barça Innovation Hub signs agreement with University of Edinburgh to collaborate with online training projects

The Barça Innovation Hub (BIHUB), the area that manages knowledge and innovation at FC Barcelona, is continuing to expand its range of agreements with prestigious international universities. The latest institution to join the project is the University of Edinburgh, a world benchmark for distance learning.

The two entities have signed a three-year agreement whereby the University of Edinburgh will be taking part in several courses offered by Barça Universitas, the digital knowledge transfer platform set up by Barça Innovation Hub. These will be divided into two main blocks. On the one hand, one-month courses, which will introduce such subjects as sports legislation and ethics. And on the other, four-month courses on venue management, sports psychology, communication and nutrition in relation to physical activity.

The agreement was sealed on Thursday at the University of Edinburgh with the visit by a delegation from the Barça Innovation Hub formed by Javier Sobrino, FC Barcelona’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, and Marcos Picalló, Head of BIHUB Universitas. The Scottish university was represented by Grant Jarvie, Chair of Sports, James Smith, Vice-Principal International, and Mason Robbins, Research Partner.

The University of Edinburgh is considered one of the best on the planet, and is one of the oldest in the Anglo-Saxon world, having been founded in 1582. It currently offers more than 80 postgraduate degrees, and around fifty MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), which are free and open to anyone.

STATEMENT BY JAVIER SOBRINO

“We are very pleased to have signed an agreement with the University of Edinburgh, which recognises the growing importance of online education worldwide. High quality professional training is one of the main goals of FC Barcelona, and this three-year agreement will help us to achieve that, with the potential to do much more”.

STATEMENT BY GRANT JARVIE

“Sport is a powerful enabler, and by working with FC Barcelona we can reach new audiences around the world. Together we are committed to using education to empower and improve people’s lives, wherever they live.”