- Leicester City have signed a new four-year agreement with De Montfort University
- DMU continue as Foxes’ Official Higher Education Partner for the next four years
- Partnership will help the Club strengthen its relationship with a key community stakeholder
- DMU students will also have the opportunity to take up work placements at the Club
As part of the deal, DMU, which was awarded the highest Gold standard in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), will offer academic ‘sampler’ courses to City personnel, plus the option of intensive English Language sessions for the Club’s overseas players.
DMU will receive valuable commercial benefits through partnering with Leicester City’s global brand, including a banner promoting its partnership with the Club outside King Power Stadium and its name in lights on pitch side advertising boards.
The partnership will see up to 50 DMU students a year offered the chance to take up a valued work placement at Leicester City, while others will have access to the Club’s training facilities and to discounted tickets for selected Premier League matches.
Leicester City Chief Executive, Susan Whelan, said: “The strengthening of our long-standing partnership with De Montfort University is a clear indicator of the Football Club’s desire to be at the forefront of positive work for both the people and businesses of Leicester.
“We’ve enjoyed wonderful success working alongside DMU over the last few years and we see great potential for the partnership going forward. With the global appeal of Leicester City in the Premier League, and the joint influence both locally and internationally, it’s an exciting relationship that will continue to be of significant benefit to all parties.”
Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “We are one of the very few universities to work this closely with a Premier League football club. What it means for our students is the chance to work in roles across the stadium and with an organisation with a global brand, meet players and staff and take part in draws for tickets to watch matches at King Power stadium.
“Our partnership represents a collaboration between like-minded organisations - both with an ambition to excel, a global reach and yet with strong and firm roots in our city of Leicester. I’m delighted that, far from being a straightforward renewal of our commitment to work together, this agreement goes further and looks to strengthen a relationship that has already brought so many significant benefits.”
DMU has worked in partnership with Leicester City for the past six seasons, supporting the Club’s climb from the Championship to the pinnacle of the Premier League, during the famous title-winning season in 2016. During that time students have gained vital work experience at the Club and hundreds more students from around the globe have taken Leicester City to their hearts by experiencing match days at the King Power.