FROM LEFT: Faculty of Sport Dean Dr Roy McCree, Executive Secretary and Acting League CEO of the TTFA Mr Yale Antoine, Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Dr Acolla Lewis-Cameron, and Futsal Association of Trinidad and Tobago President Mr Geoffrey Edwards display the signed MoU.
The UWI St Augustine Campus and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) have signed a four-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen football development, education, research and professional capacity in Trinidad and Tobago.
The MOU, signed on Friday, September 11, establishes a framework for collaboration between The UWI’s Faculty of Sport and Department of Management Studies, and the TTFA’s academies, administration and national teams. The partnership will create opportunities to connect The UWI’s academic and research expertise with the practical needs of the football sector, while expanding opportunities for student development and professional training.
Dr Roy McCree, Dean of The UWI’s Faculty of Sport, welcomed the partnership. “One of our mandates is to develop partnerships with industry to help develop programmes within the sport sector. I welcome this MoU and wish all partners the very best.”
The collaboration will span football, futsal, beach soccer, eFootball, youth football and high-performance programmes. Areas of cooperation will include joint seminars and workshops, coaching education, professional development, technical support and bringing academic expertise and practical experience together across different areas of the game to exchange knowledge.
The agreement will create opportunities for UWI students to gain practical experience in the football sector. internships, practica, electives, research opportunities and match-day volunteering. The TTFA has committed to give UWI students priority consideration for internships and other opportunities.
The partnership will also support training and capacity-building in the administration and development of sports such as sports science, sports management, anti-doping, refereeing, safeguarding, nutrition, ethics, governance, financial management and athlete preparation.
The MOU will also expand access to professional education in sports management. Where feasible, The UWI intends to provide an initial two half-scholarships to eligible participants, while the TTFA has committed to two half-scholarships annually for eligible candidates pursuing The UWI-FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management.
The MOU will remain in effect for four years from the date of signing with specific projects, financial arrangements, intellectual property matters and other detailed activities to be addressed separately between the parties, where required.
