In 2006 Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA) formed a partnership with the world’s largest distance learning provider, Thomson Education, to develop and deliver cutting-edge sport education products.

Globally, SKA is the exclusive provider of sport higher education courses for Thomson Education and preferred supplier of sport vocational courses. In October 2007, Thomson will be accepting enrolments for the first accredited degree – a Bachelor of Accounting. Subjects in this degree are common to the soon-to-be-released Bachelor of Business which offers a Major in Sport Management*.

SKA has consistently delivered high-level face-to-face courses blending the best of business know-how and sport academia with well-established practical experience from the world’s best in sport. Thomson Education currently provides vocational and short certificate style courses to more than 40,000 students through distance learning for a range of industries in Australia, and in so doing, provides crucial education and career steps for busy and time-poor students or those who prefer the flexibility of distance learning. The partnership between SKA and Thomson is a natural fit for the future development of sport education.

“The business of sport offers a broad range of specialisations,” says SKA’s CEO Leighton Wood. “From executive management including marketing and business development roles, through to scientific based knowledge in coaching, development and training, SKA’s relationship with the world’s best academics and sport industry professionals provides Thomson with an unmatched depth of knowledge to draw upon for its education products.”

Thomson Education was awarded its Higher Education Institution status by the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) on 1 January 2007. This important milestone provides a strong platform to roll-out online distance education to a potential audience of 3.9 billion throughout the Asia Pacific region. Thomson’s first fully accredited degree is a Bachelor of Accounting, with many other degrees in the pipeline for roll-out over coming years.

Based upon the same high academic and industry standards underpinning its face-to-face courses, SKA has worked closely with Thomson to develop a range of awards in Sport, commencing with a Bachelor of Business with a major in Sport Management*. Many of the subjects in this degree are common to the Bachelor of Accounting and other majors in the Bachelor of Business, including Corporate Governance, Marketing, IT, Occupational Health and Safety, and Logistics.

“These subjects are the culmination of the latest information, industry expertise and research,” says Wood.

“Through distance learning, complimented by the power of internet, students can access extraordinary resources and current thinking when enrolled with Thomson. Because the units in the Accounting and Business degrees are highly modular, students are able to choose from a broad range of subjects, and tailor the degree to their particular professional requirements. Consequently, all units in the Accounting degree will count towards the Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) degree*, and all learning resources are made available to students anywhere, anytime by distance education.”

Units in the Bachelor of Accounting available from October 2007, include:

• Accounting Principles
• Accounting for Decision Making
• Introduction to Statistics
• Business Law
• Macroeconomics
• Introduction to Marketing
• Organisational Behaviour and Theory
• Introduction to Project Management
• Foundations of Management & Corporate Governance
• Business Computing
• Management Accounting
• Financial Accounting
• Introduction to International Business Strategy
• Business Finance
• Issues in Contemporary Regulation & Governance

Students are able to take any of these units individually, as Open Units, without having to enrol in a degree, and receive full credit towards the Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) degree, which will commence in mid 2008*. Visit www.thomson.edu.au and click on ‘Higher Education’.

The Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) will be the first full undergraduate sport education program offered by Thomson Education through its partnership with SKA. Units available in 2008* include:

• Sport Industry
• Sport & Globalisation
• Sport Management
• Sport Marketing
• Sport Media & Communication
• Sport Leadership & Governance
• History of Sport & Society
• Sport Policy & Planning
• Public Relations in Sport
• Sport Sponsorship
• Contemporary Social Context of Sport
• Sport Law

SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED
Sport Knowledge Australia is pleased to announce its scholarship scheme for students wishing to enrol in any number of units in the Bachelor of Accounting. These units may be taken as part of a degree or individually for personal or professional development. As a Thomson Education partner, students are eligible for an introductory industry-sponsored scholarship of $525 per unit, reducing the price of each unit for a limited period to $775 per unit for any and all units purchased prior to 30 September 2007.

This price applies regardless of the number of units purchased and when they are commenced. Students may purchase, say, 10 Units at this price prior to 30 September 2007, and undertake only two this year, completing the rest over subsequent years. APPLY NOW. SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS September 30, 2007

*Subject to approval by the NSW Department of Education and Training.