132 candidates have now earned the ESA Diploma over the past three years and ESA wishes to thank its members for their tremendous support and encouragement. The ESA Diploma is truly living up to its mantra of ‘the industry training the industry’.
For the 2014 Diploma course, ESA is delighted to announce that of the 50 students who have qualified this year, five received Distinction (over 75%), 28 Commended (65–74%) and 17 obtained a pass (50–64%).
The class comprised students from a cross-section of organisations – sponsorship and marketing agencies, brands, rights holders, governing bodies and the charity sector – and a spread of territories including Ireland, the UK, Eastern and Western Europe and India.
Peter Raymond, ESA Diploma Course Director said: "The high standard achieved by this year’s students reflects the level of talent working in our industry. We now have a pleasing mix of students undertaking the course – from experienced practitioners to recent graduates wanting to develop a career in sponsorship – and feel confident that it provides suitable and invaluable knowledge enhancement and training for all levels".
Karen Earl, ESA Chairman added that the quality of the students’ work and their commitment to further learning, while working hard in their day jobs, places the industry in a strong position for the future. "These students are tomorrow’s leaders and we are delighted with the high calibre of people working within the sponsorship industry".
Special congratulations are extended to top student Matt Readman and to Kim Rhodes, who achieved top marks in the set brief.
Each year, ESA surveys the students and their mentors and continues to diligently take on the comments received to ensure that the next course is even better.
2014 student, Patrick Haslett, Commercial Director, Paralympics Ireland, commented: "Sponsorship is certainly a fascinating industry and the ESA Diploma content brought to life its relevance and ever increasing potential".
Other students’ feedback included:
– "It was overall a fantastic experience, lots of hard work and long hours but well worth it in the end!"
– "It provided great learning and I really enjoyed the seminars".
– "I can only give positive feedback about my ESA Diploma experience".
ESA wishes to thank Activative, ICON, Sponsorium, the SportBusiness Group and Sport England for their continued support and to Wilson Hartnell and Onside Sponsorship who have supported the Irish course.
More information about the seven-month distance learning course can be found on the Diploma section of the ESA website. All the information about the syllabus, costs, schedule and enrolment can be found here – click http://sponsorship.org/diploma/diploma-home
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For further information contact the ESA Office via esaoffice@sponsorship.org or telephone +44 (0) 20 8390 3311.