26 Sep 2022
Aspire Academy welcomed representatives from 26 institutes to our University Fair 2022 to help our senior student-athletes consider their options when they graduate.
This was the first face-to-face fair that has been possible since 2019 due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
The student-athletes were given the chance to not only talk to representatives from universities but also the likes of Qatar Airways Cadet Pilot Programme and the Qatari Military.
Teachers, student-athletes and the representatives all highlighted the importance of being able to combine academic education and sporting development.
Football student-athlete Abdulrahman Al Sharshini says the academy is the ideal place for him to appreciate the importance of balancing the two.
“I am looking into studying computer sciences as I continue my football career – but I know that at the moment I can’t put more effort into one and not the other,” he said.
“This is a great chance for me to see what is on offer for me to study and explore those opportunities.”
Student affairs Services Manager Abdul Aziz Al-Jedaia reiterated the academy’s desire to produce student-athletes who have choices after they leave Aspire.
“We offer these meetings so that our student-athletes have the chance to explore a wide variety of options open to them after leaving us,” he explained.
“Of course, sport is very important to them while here at the academy but it cannot be at the expense of their academic progress.”
“When our student-athletes leave us, they know they have options to progress whether that is combining sport and academics, or they find another path.”
One of those answering our student-athlete’s questions and helping them explore their options was the UK’s University of Aberdeen, who have a campus in Doha in partnership with AFG.
“We offer a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate business management courses that will open a lot of different avenues to Aspire Academy graduates,” explained Nadia de Gama, the Undergraduate Programme Leader for Business Management and joint programs.
“These days that doesn’t mean moving away from sport completely as the businesses around sports continue to grow.”
“We are also aware that some of those that join us will be hoping to combine their education with their sporting endeavours and we hope they can maintain the balance between the two.”