Essendon Football Club is delighted to unveil a new and innovative education program in partnership with RMIT University.

The Essendon Education Academy (EEA) will proudly provide students with a pathway to a career in elite sport, with participants having access to world-class, high-performance facilities and industry experts.

Based at the NEC Hangar, students will complete a dual diploma in Business and Leadership & Management in a unique program over the course of a year, with a minimum of two guaranteed graduate roles at the Essendon Football Club following the completion of the course.

RMIT is a multi-sector university of technology, design and enterprise with 95,000 students and almost 10,000 staff globally. Applications for the program open on Friday, December 10.

Throughout the full-time program, participants will build a network and develop connections in the sport industry as they undertake 100 hours of real-life work experience across Essendon’s various departments and its partner network.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE ESSENDON EDUCATION ACADEMY

Participants will have access to Essendon’s elite high-performance facilities and staff, with the opportunity to gain extensive and practical insight into the operations of an AFL club across the men’s and women’s football programs.

Combining a variety of teaching methods, including face-to-face, online and self-directed study, the EEA will provide students with the foundations and learnings required to work in an elite sporting environment or in the broader business world.

At the completion of the course, students will have pathway options into undergraduate programs at RMIT.

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said the club was thrilled to further enhance its partnership with RMIT and provide students with the first step for a career in elite sport.

“Essendon Football Club and RMIT are excited to build on their existing partnership to combine sport with business and help students start their careers,” Campbell said.

“By partnering with RMIT, we can provide students with a unique education experience where they can learn important business, leadership and management skills while immersing themselves in an elite sporting environment.

“This innovative course will allow students to learn from industry experts, including our own high-performance staff, to develop the fundamental skills required for what we hope will be a long and successful career in either business or sport.

“It’s very exciting for students to have the opportunity to be based at our newly developed facilities at the NEC Hangar and learn about the operations of a football club.”

“Students will be entrenched in sport and exposed to different areas of the club throughout their educational experience.”

RMIT’s College of Vocational Education Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Mish Eastman, said the dual diploma in Business and Leadership & Management would provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to operate or manage a business, with the added bonus of a ‘sports lens’ to prepare students for work within the sporting arena.

“RMIT’s renewed partnership with Essendon Football Club highlights the value in providing tangible opportunities for students to learn, whilst offering a unique vocational course to the community,” Eastman said.

“This is what RMIT’s College of Vocational Education does so well – provides lifelong learning and upskilling opportunities to the community in key areas of demand.

“We are looking forward to this exciting journey ahead with Essendon.”

Click here to register your interest in the Essendon Education Academy (RMIT University - RTO ID 3046)