Mzuni to introduce sports management course
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has unveiled plans to introduce a degree programme in sports management to be run by its Tourism and Hospitality Management Faculty.
The University believes the programme, whose first intake will be in September this year after government approves its curriculum, will help enhance sports management, especially on the economy.
Speaking at Sunbird Mzuzu during a programme curriculum review meeting, Mzuni vice-chancellor Loveness Kaunda said Malawi is losing a lot of economic opportunities because it does not have clear direction as regards sports development in the country.
She said tourism and sports complement each other, hence the need for the country to have well qualified sports managers to advance various sporting activities.
Said Kaunda: “Sports is produced, marketed and sold to the public. Many organisations market their products through sports, but on top of that, it is one form of tourism that can contribute towards the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
She cited the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which boosted that country’s GDP through creation of high demand for goods in a country with GDP per capita of $10 000.
One of the facilitators Mark Tembo, who is also a commissioner at Teaching Service Commission (TSM), commended Mzuni for the initiative, saying it will help develop the sports fraternity which has remained unfledged for ages.
“We have seen other countries’ GDP growing because of sports as it brings people together from different countries and communities. Sports enhances business and, therefore, it is important in the economic development of any country.”
In his presentation, director of sports in the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, Jameson Ndalama, acknowledged that there are challenges in the development of sports in the country, a thing he claimed is retarding the economic development of the country.
“Sports has a special attraction in terms of members and unity, but if we look at how it is being developed we find we are doing very little because it has the potential of generating a lot of income for our country.”
