Ghaida Almarwani
Doha: Ghaida Almarwani, a sports enthusiast and aspiring media professional, is the first graduate student from Northwestern Qatar.
Almarwani will be awarded a Master of Arts in Sports Administration through a partnership with Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies.
Designed to educate the next generation of media professionals and leaders in the sports industry, the program’s curriculum includes core courses on operations, marketing, and sponsorship in sports.
Additionally, students enroll in a four-course program on Global Sport Communication, which specializes in communication, marketing, and promotional roles in the global sports industry.
Commenting on her experience as part of the program’s inaugural class, Almarwani said, “The program prepares students with the professional skills and knowledge to thrive in a range of careers in the sports industry. With courses that range from sports finance and budgeting to marketing and social issues to technology, I am confident that with this degree, I will be an asset to any organisation in the sports industry.”
The courses are delivered by faculty with extensive professional and scholarly expertise in sports and sports management. Students can enroll in various courses that include sports research methods, legal and ethical issues, the technology of sports, and global sports communication.
Students in the program participate in workshops and get hands-on experience working with the media and new technology. “During some of the elective courses, I was able to be part of a press conference, design my website, draw a mock-up on my mobile app, and plan a campaign from start to finish,” Almarwani said.
Another course that stood out to Almarwani was the Sports Research Methods course. “It was particularly insightful because it provided me with a broad introduction to data analysis and statistical methods.
By the end of the course, I was able to analyze sports organisations, their revenue streams, recommend new data-driven approaches to maximize revenue opportunities, and use quantitative analysis to value teams, athletes, fans, brands, sponsorships.”
Northwestern University in Qatar draws from its parent organisation, Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), a distinguished history, famous programs, and an exceptional faculty.
Founded in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, NU-Q provides a framework through which students explore the world and, ultimately, shape its future through its distinguished programs in communication, journalism and strategic communication, and the liberal arts.
