Mireia Pradas has found a way to train to work in what she is passionate about, sports. The CEU Business Administration student is reinforcing her learning with the Specialist Degree in Sports Management and Direction. A pioneering training offered by her university. She tells us about her experience in this interview.
Mireia, before addressing the Degree in Sports Management and Direction, where does your passion for sports come from?
It started when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. From that moment on, I had to do sports in order to regulate my illness. Since I was 8 years old I have done rhythmic gymnastics, and I have been able to realize that sport, in addition to providing health benefits, brings more things, such as experiences, friendships, discipline and autonomy.
And all this was possible thanks to the club that opened doors for me, L’Almara de Burjasot, and, above all, to my coaches and teammates for all the effort they made.
Mireia, a gymnast since she was a child, is excited to work in a sports entity, in management as well as creating events
Once the moment of appreciation is over Let’s discuss the degree. Do you think sports business management has a future? Do you see yourself working in this area?
Yes. Because, after all, clubs are companies, and there is increasing interest and devotion to sport. Sport is more than just exercising, and this is something I would like to show, and I would be very excited to work in a sports entity, in management and in creating events.
This first year you have attended talks of important sports management figures, such as Tebas, Llaneza, Juan de Dios Crespo, «Petón»… What would you highlight from these sessions with experts as teachers?
It would really highlight their professionalism. They have taught us a variety of strategies and experiences, and shown us that sport is not only what we can see on television, but much more. It could be said that all clubs, in addition to focusing on sport, are actually companies and that poor organization or management can have a big negative influence.
‘About the visiting experts, I would highlight their professionalism. They have taught us a variety of strategies and experiences’
It can’t be easy. What lesson do you draw from the Degree so far?
Indeed. After everything I have learned this year, I can say that managing a club is more difficult than it sounds. You have to keep many things in mind and adjust the budget to everything that must be done in order to avoid debt.
In the case of football, which is what we have dealt with the most during this four-month period, many factors must be taken into account. For example, in the case of Villarreal football club, the education and objectives that the club wants to convey to the children of the youth team, the contracts with the players, sponsors and suppliers, the strategies to be used to disseminate the objectives, maintenance, international relations, transfers… Much more than we can imagine.
And we haven’t started the insternship, which will allow us to see this applied to real situations. Where will do your internship this year?
I will begin my internship in July in the Town council of Pobla de Vallbona. And next year I would like to do it in the Valencian Federation of Gymnastics.
‘In this short time, I have had the opportunity to gain very useful knowledge that it did not have and I believe that it can be very useful to me’
You will surely make use of that knowledge. Mireia, what is your assessment of this first year of the degree? What have you liked the most?
Above all, the approachability and lessons of the professors when it comes to explaining their experiences to us.
And an activity that I really enjoyed was visiting the Villarreal football club, as I had never been to a football stadium, since it is not the sport that I am most passionate about.
Actually, in this short time, I have had the opportunity to gain very useful knowledge that it did not have and I believe that it can be very useful to me’
We are very glad that the Specialist Degree in Sports Direction and Management is meeting your expectations. Hopefully it helps you work on what you are passionate about.
Thank you very much.
