- Start date
- Duration
- Format
- Language
- 16 sep 2025
- 40 hours
- Online
- Italian
Offer sports organizations know-how, rationales and tools to support and “professionalize” management and managerial activities.
Saudi Delegation in SDA Bocconi for new synergies and collaborations in sports
SDA Bocconi School of Management welcomed a delegation from the Ministries of Investment and Sports of Saudi Arabia eager to gain a deeper understanding of the research and training activities carried out by the Sport and Entertainment Knowledge Center (SEKC) and the School as a whole, given its international reputation.
Representing the two ministries were Basim Ibrahim, Director of Sport Investment Development at the Ministry of Investment, and Abdullah Alrasheed, Director of Investment Enablement at the Ministry of Sports.
This visit, part of a broader series of meetings in Milan that included discussions on various industries and themes, underscores the importance the Saudi delegation places on SDA Bocconi’s innovative work at an international level and its ability to generate distinctive and strategic knowledge.
Throughout the morning, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Dean Stefano Caselli, who provided a general introduction to the School and its long-standing path of internationalization in the Middle East. The meeting then focused on the multidisciplinary approach and the SEKC’s ability to propose new social, cultural, and economic models for sports and events. Established in 2013 and led by Professor Dino Ruta, the Sport and Entertainment Knowledge Center coordinates international projects and initiatives in the world of sports and events, developing long-term relationships with key industry players. The Center aims to support strategic leaders by combining data analysis with managerial innovation. By integrating different economic-managerial competencies and constantly engaging in emerging debates, the SEKC generates new knowledge to analyze, compare, and propose social, cultural, and economic models for the sports and entertainment industries.
Among the Center’s recent research and initiatives are two prominent master’s programs, the FIFA Master and the Executive Master in Business of Events, as well as strategic collaborations with organizations such as the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Qatar 2022, the National Basketball Players Association, and the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC).
The Saudi delegation emphasized the country’s need to develop its football system through the privatization of clubs, attracting international investors, including potentially Italian ones. The country also needs to draw major events with the FIFA World Cup 2034. These large-scale projects aim to foster active participation in sports among Saudi citizens, enhancing their physical and social well-being.
“SDA Bocconi can create internationally recognized research and training projects with a specialized faculty that can generate innovative knowledge in an industry that plays a highly visible role in today’s economy. Sports and entertainment feature unique economic and social models that should be widely taught in international business schools. Education is an essential pillar for the sustainable growth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s projects,” said Professor Dino Ruta, Director of the SEKC.
During the visit, the Saudi delegation also had the chance to meet Professor Veronica Vecchi, Professor of Practice of Business Government Relations at SDA Bocconi, appointed President of Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2020-2026 Spa, the company responsible for developing infrastructure for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Professor Vecchi shared her vision of public-private partnerships (PPP) for the construction and management of sports facilities.
The Saudi delegation’s visit is yet another testament to the international relevance of the Sport and Entertainment Knowledge Center and SDA Bocconi as a whole, reinforcing their roles as developers of cutting-edge managerial models capable of generating significant impacts on global sports systems.
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