Birkbeck, University of London and Stats Perform have announced an extension of their collaboration, with the sportstech firm continuing to deliver a dedicated football analytics module at the school.

The eight week module will function under the University’s Sport Management and Business of Football MSc, and will commence at the start of the 2022 summer semester, covering a range of areas relating to football analytics.

This will include different analytical technologies, the ‘value of both qualitative and quantitative data’ and data visualisation, with an added focus on best practice for applying data to football performance and football business scenarios. 

“We are very happy to be continuing our collaboration with Birkbeck, which we first announced back in 2018,” remarked Stats Perform VP Data, AI & Pro Products Ben Mackriell.

“The aim of the course is to outline the core fundamentals around football analytics, taking into account the rapidly evolving data landscape for clubs and practitioners. 

“This is being driven by our knowledge of data application and technological advances, facilitated through AI and machine learning, which is enabling clubs to leverage new predictive models trained on millions of data points from thousands of matches.”

The remote course will consist of an introduction to core analytical concepts and approaches regarding data and professional football, with further content surrounding the application of said concepts to long-term strategic planning and day-to-day activities.

Stats Perform maintains an active presence in football data, maintaining partnerships with a range of leagues and governing bodies such as the Premier League, La Liga and Conmebol and the Chinese Super League (CSL).

“By delivering this course remotely, we can provide Birkbeck’s MSc students and industry practitioners, based around the world, with an ideal opportunity to obtain new insights into understanding analytical concepts which can be of benefit to their future careers.” Mackriell added.

Dr. Giambattista Rossi, Lecturer, Department of Management at Birkbeck, University of London, said: “This module has proved increasingly popular with our students year-on-year, so I am very pleased that we will be partnering again with Stats Perform for a fourth consecutive summer.

“By involving different experts during each lecture, our enrolled MSc students will get the opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the core fundamentals of applied football analytics. 

“Our online portal can also provide the perfect teaching and studying environment for data analysts who are looking to further develop their skills via remote learning.”