The UK's University of Liverpool has announced the launch of a new MBA program with a focus on the horseracing industry.
The program aims to prepare graduates for senior functional and general management positions in the horseracing industry and associated industries. Its curriculum will cover a range of topics significant to the industry, including marketing and sponsorship, event management, laws and regulations, and even equine welfare.
Horseracing is a substantial industry. A 2013 report by Deloitte found that the industry adds some 3.45 billion GBP each year to the British economy, and employs some 17,000 people. And globally, the industry holds growth potential in countries like China.
Liverpool reports that a number of the school's MBA graduates already hold positions in the industry, including with the gaming company Ladbrokes, as well as with The Jockey Club and the Ascot Racecourse.
Liverpool's MBA in Thoroughbred Horseracing Industries can be completed either on a full-time or a part-time basis. The program can be completed in one or two years, respectively.
Although some other business schools—such as Florida Atlantic University's College of Business and France's EMLyon—offer MBAs or other master's programs in sports industry management, this is likely the first MBA program with a focus on the horseracing industry.
Relatedly, Liverpool also offers a specialized MBA program with a focus on the football industries.
The MBA in Thoroughbred Horseracing is set to launch in the fall. To apply, MBA candidates are expected to have a minimum of two or three years of experience, not necessarily in the horseracing industry. Additionally, a 2:1 Honours degree from a UK university—or its equivalent—is also required, although non-graduates with significant professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
For more information, please see Liverpool's MBA in Thoroughbred Horseracing Industries program webpage.
Image: Nigel Cox / Creative Commons
