Swinburne partners with Richmond Football Club
In Summary
- Four-year agreement includes the naming rights of Punt Road Oval
- Students will benefit from industry placements and access to specialist facilities
- Builds on partnership with Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership
Swinburne continues to build on its relationship with Richmond Football Club with the announcement of a four-year partnership agreement, which includes the naming rights of the iconic Punt Road Oval.
Swinburne and Richmond Football Club teamed up in 2016 to establish the Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership, where Swinburne students are enrolled in a Diploma of Sports Development/Diploma of Leadership and Management.
The agreement will pave the way for collaborations in the areas of research, industry placements as well as provide access to specialist facilities for Swinburne students.
Swinburne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Duncan Bentley says the university’s relationship with Richmond Football Club aligns well with Swinburne’s expansion in health and sports related areas.
“We are continuing to grow our heath and sports related portfolio and believe this partnership with a leading Australian sporting club will create many exciting opportunities for our Swinburne community.”
“Richmond Football Club place great importance on equity and diversity and we are proud to support an organisation with these values that mirror our own.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said the partnership was an incredibly exciting opportunity that works on so many levels.
“Both organisations have a shared commitment to diversity, equity, education and excellence and the opportunities to integrate this partnership across our business, to the benefit of both, are many, including the future aspirations we have for the development of this facility,” he says.
“Swinburne is a highly-regarded organisation and we have already worked collaboratively with them on the development of the innovative Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership. To have the Swinburne name attached to this iconic facility, in the heart of one of the world’s great sports and entertainment precincts, is fantastic and we look forward to working with them.”
New sports courses for Swinburne students
A new sports media course, the Diploma of Screen and Media - Sports Media stream, will also see students intern at Richmond Football Club from July 2017.
“We identified the opportunity to deliver enhanced coverage of our Richmond VFL team and at the same time provide a great educational opportunity for Swinburne students interested in sports media,” Richmond general manager of communications and marketing Simon Matthews says.
“Content development will always be the foundation of digital engagement and there will be opportunities beyond the VFL program to give these students new learning experiences and deliver great content for our fans.”
Swinburne’s is also expanding its health and sports-related offerings, which includes the development of a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science commencing in 2018.