NMSA gets scholarship opportunity invites

A football coach conducts drills during a clinic for young players in this file photo taken at the Oleai Sports Complex Field last year. CNMI’s sports administrators or student-athletes are invited to apply for a scholarship opportunity with FISU and Seoul National University. (Jon Perez)

The International University Sports Federation where Northern Marianas Sports Association is a member is inviting countries from five associations to submit their nominees for a new scholarship opportunity—the 2016 Dream Together Master Program offered by the Seoul National University.

The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Foundation for the Next Generation Sports Talent jointly funded the program in cooperation with SNU, which is ranked 31st in the world and third in Asia based on the latest QS World University rankings.

FISU secretary general and chief executive officer Eric Saintrond, in an email sent by FISU’s Education Department to all member associations, said the program is open to current sports administrators from FISU members or student-athletes in the national or international level.

“This program aims to consolidate international sports cooperation via global networking, as well as the provision of an in-depth insight in the area of sports management, serving as a way of preparation for leadership positions in sports fields,” said Saintrond.

FISU can present a maximum of eight candidates who are willing to work on the sports sector upon completion of the study program. The students will get full scholarship, including airfare, tuition, and monthly stipends.

Those who will complete the program will receive the Master of Sports Management degree from SNU.

SNU’s Global Sports Management Graduate Program will run the Dream Together Master Program, which starts in late August this year and ends in June 2018.

Students will stay in Korea for 17 months, from August 2016 to December 2017, with the remaining six months to be spent in their home countries to work on their thesis.

World-class experts and scholars, overseas professors, and faculty from Korea will conduct the courses in English.

Saintrond said he is inviting all FISU member associations to submit their candidates to the FISU Education Department at education@fisu.net no later than Feb. 15.

Northern Marianas Sports Association president Michael White also sent out the documents and other requirements to all of its member federations.

FISU has 170 member countries spread out in Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania associations.