University continues as Preferred Higher Education partner at Championship club

The University of Wolverhampton has extended its partnership with West Bromwich Albion Football Club for the 2024/25 season, as the club’s Preferred Higher Education Partner.  

The deal extends the existing partnership, which first launched in 2013, between the club and the University after several successful years.   

The University will continue to work in collaboration with West Bromwich Albion to offer a number of work placements, shadowing opportunities and question and answer sessions for students across several departments at the club. 

The experiences offered enrich courses including, photography, marketing, sport and hospitality management.  

The latest partnership deal signed will see the club work with the University in delivering Course Taster Sessions in Football Education and Coaching Programme to the club’s Foundation participants. Club staff teaching across all West Bromwich Albion’s education programmes will promote the University of Wolverhampton as a preferred progression pathway.  

Seven School of Sport graduates from the University are now working at the club’s Academy having previously completed work placements. One of those graduates is Kieran Squire who studied BA Hons Physical Education at the University. 

Kieran is now Under 9’s Lead Coach for the Academy at West Bromwich Albion. Reflecting on his journey to where he is now, Kieran said: “My time at the University of Wolverhampton gave me the skills to understand coaching and opportunities to network. Some of the students who I studied with are now colleagues.  

“When I first joined the University, I didn’t fully understand coaching could be a full-time career. Helping coach the Men's and Women's teams at the University enabled me to gain skills which I could then apply in future roles and in my role today at West Bromwich Albion.  

“It’s great to be working alongside current University students, some of them working in Analysis, who watch and code some our games. We are then able to provide feedback to the players to ensure they have the best tools to perform.”  

Former Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur footballer, Kerys Harrop, now Lecturer in Football Coaching and Performance at the University, said: “The partnership with the club will allow football coaching students to gain knowledge and experience that will help them to develop as coaches.  

“For students to have the Albion on your CV, if you have completed a placement, volunteering opportunities, or taken on part-time or full-time work, it would be fantastic for them.  

“Having a partnership with West Bromwich Albion is a selling point for the University and prospective students. I believe it’s an attraction for students knowing we have partnerships with professional clubs in the Midlands, including the Albion.  

“Ultimately, students will want a job. At the University of Wolverhampton, we pride ourselves in providing placement opportunities and pathways for students to then get into employment whilst they’re at University or after graduating.”  

Rachel Rankin, Head of Marketing and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) Lead at West Bromwich Albion, graduated from the University in 1998 having studied Media and Mass Communications.  

Looking back on her time at the University, Rachel said: “I was one of the first members in my family to attend University and there were initial feelings of being scared and daunted. However, the lecturers were very supportive and I felt part of the University.  

“After graduating, I joined the sabbatical team at the University giving me the opportunity to see what it was like working for a business. I had a role to fulfil, meetings to attend and responsibilities as part of my role which made me feel more well-equipped.  

“Now in my current role, I’m working with different departments at the club but also with my team on strategic campaigns. As Lead EDI, I work with all teams at the club but also other clubs in the country on our EDI policies.” 

For anyone starting out on their career journey, Rachel said: “You need to have the ability to work very hard, be open-minded and take opportunities when you get them. The University provided me with plenty of opportunities and you just have to be brave in taking those opportunities when they come. 

“I’ve been at the club for two-and-a-half-years and when I first started, I was thrown at the deep end working on shirt launches. In what was a busy time, it was important to take a breath and be brave at that time. I had colleagues who believed in me and the opportunity allowed me to be creative with the launches.”   

Anyone interested in studying for courses at the School of Sport at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days.