Meet Your Future Lecturers: Sofie Smismans

As an aspiring sports professional, you may have considered the world of education as a way to break into a fast-paced and exciting industry.

Many choose to do so with us at GIS, with our Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business offering the knowledge and network needed for your a head start in a competitive industry.

Understandably, you may want to know a little more about your future lecturers before you decide, which is why we spoke to course leader Sofie Smismans about her background and the course itself.

“I’ve been passionate about football from a very young age,” Sofie told us, “and always been eager to learn—something I hope to pass on to my students.”

Having also lectured in Sports Policy and Management, Sofie is based in Belgium, home to our Lotto Park campus, where students can study with Belgian giants R.S.C. Anderlecht.

Over the course of her career, Sofie has researched various sporting projects, specialising in the transition of athletes to their post-retirement careers. This has included a PhD investigating the challenges and resources that influence the career transition of elite athletes, including interviews with England Women’s manager and three-time UEFA Women’s Championship winner, Sarina Wiegman.

This is also her second doctorate, having already completed a PhD in Movement and Sport Sciences in 2022. Combined with a UEFA B licence, Sofie has both expertise and passion across many areas of the game, helping to fuel her work as a lecturer.

“Teaching is not only about enriching others with knowledge, but also about learning myself every single day. Being able to combine my passion for the game with my curiosity makes this a fantastic opportunity. I truly hope I can bring added value to all promising GIS students!”

Alongside academia, Sofie currently works as a Project Lead and Team Manager for R.S.C. Anderlecht Women. Explaining that her passion for this role comes from recognising the huge potential of the women’s game, Sofie said: “The vast, still largely untapped potential of women’s football—especially in Belgium—makes this role particularly exciting and meaningful.”

Finally, we asked Sofie what skills our course provides to students. Networking was one of them, and is a vital competency in the sporting world, with GIS’ network helping make the course stand out.

“The course really encourages students to be proactive, to build and nurture strong networks, and to develop a critical mindset—all essential skills for anyone aspiring to become a sports professional.”

So if you would like to be part of the GIS network and gain access to the top teaching of both Sofie and our other lecturers, explore our course offerings to find the right opportunity for you!

Article by Zakaria Anani