How GIS Business, Media & Management Students Supported Leading Jamaican Football Team

As part of our annual GIS Live Lab trip to Jamaica, ten of our students had the opportunity to spend time working with the leading Jamaican Premier League side, Mount Pleasant Football Academy.

Half of these students were enrolled on our Business, Media and Management courses, where they supported the club during their time in the Caribbean.

They supported content creation as well as various commercial and partnership activities, and the trip marked the first of our Live Lab internships where students work remotely with the club throughout the academic year before travelling to the island to apply what they’ve learned in person.

One student who attended was Daniel Colquhoun, who is currently studying on our Sports Marketing and Media course, and labelled the experience “one of the best weeks of my life!”

Studying subjects such as Content Creation, Social Media Management, and Digital Marketing as part of his course, Daniel felt these modules were of particular use to him during his time with Mount Pleasant, adding they were “of great value in furthering knowledge that was applicable to the work we put in at Mount Pleasant. 

“Their online presence, matchday experience, and revenue generation were something that required attention, and so being able to create different types of content and implement ideas about how, in the area of Jamaica they are located, they could generate greater revenue and improve the experience for supporters was helped hugely by the knowledge gained through studying the course.”

Misbah Malik is another student part of the internship, and felt the experience offered him a view into what it’s really like working in the sports industry.

“The hands-on experience solidified my passion for the field and clarified where I could add the most value in my career”, he said.

“The most valuable part was applying my knowledge in a completely new cultural and sporting environment. It pushed me to think on my feet, adapt quickly, and find creative solutions – something you can’t fully replicate in a classroom”, which is one of GIS’ main objectives in establishing this partnership with Mount Pleasant.

CEO and President of GIS, Sharona Friedman, felt this opportunity to apply what you learn in the classroom reflects the ethos of GIS.

“We’re delighted to partner with such a pioneering club in Mount Pleasant and for our students to have this opportunity to support a leader of Caribbean football. This will be a life-changing experience for students involved and an opportunity to put their university education to work in real-time,” she said.

Misbah and Daniel both went on to encourage future students to attend a GIS Live Lab if they get the chance, with Misbah saying, “Don’t overthink it – just apply! 

“Beyond the incredible professional experience, the people I met made the trip unforgettable. If you’re on the fence, take the chance – you won’t regret it.”

To learn more about the global opportunities we offer at GIS, you can sign up for our Study and Coach Around the World webinar on the 23rd of July.
Article by Zakaria Anani