The Vladimir Potanin Foundation is now inviting applications for financial support to study at the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU). The total amount of grants is 20 mln RUB. The financial support is provided under the Foundation's "Olympic Scholarships" programme aimed at training top class sport managers. To qualify for the competition, the applicants must be planning to enrol in RIOU's Master of Sport Administration (MSA) course in 2014/2015 academic year. The main feature of the course is its focus on the experience in organising and staging the Olympic Games, as well as on the Olympic legacy produced. The students will study the following key modules: Economics of Sport and the Olympic Games; Sport in the System of Social Relations; Management and Sport; Business Environment in Sport; Marketing and Communications in Sport. Lectures and seminars will be delivered by acclaimed Russian and foreign professors specialising in the fields of sport management and marketing.
Applications for grants can only be made once RIOU's Admissions Board has approved the candidate for enrollment. The winners will receive an individual donation covering the cost of their education (the rouble equivalent of up to 15,000 USD), as well as a monthly scholarship for the whole period of study (10 months).
In accordance with RIOU's admission rules, the applicants need to submit copies of their passports and higher education diplomas, as well as a completed application form, including an essay in which the applicants write about themselves, their experience, leadership qualities and share their vision on how they are going to utilise the knowledge gained. Assessment of candidates for grants will be based on academic aptitude and professionalism, fluency in English (the language of instruction), leadership potential, initiative and enthusiasm.
This is the second time the Potanin Foundation is providing grants to study at the Russian International Olympic University. The first group of recipients are now taking RIOU's MSA course.
"Our country needs to develop the sports industry", said Larisa Zelkova, General Director of the V. Potanin Foundation. "It should be stressed that there are currently not many opportunities in the world to get training in sport management in a form that is concise, effective and practice-oriented. So, we thought it necessary to make education at RIOU more affordable by offering financial support to the most deserving candidates, within the framework of the Foundation's "Olympic Scholarships" programme."
For detailed information on the competition rules visit the Vladimir Potanin Foundation's website http://www.fondpotanin.ru/english-c73
The Vladimir Potanin Foundation is one of the first private charity foundations in Russia. It was established in 1999 to implement large-scale programmes in the fields of education and culture. The Foundation's main objective is to support enthusiastic and creative professionals and promote philanthropy in Russia. The Foundation offers long-term scholarship and grant programmes targeted at talented students and faculty members from Russia's leading universities, museum employees, sports industry professionals and specialists in creating and developing endowments.
