Setanta College, supported by Enterprise Ireland – in its latest establishment has associated with Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) to launch a new partnership. Enterprise Ireland is an Irish government agency responsible for export development in India. The partnership will see the Europe-based Institute of Higher Education deliver its flagship Master of Science in Performance Coaching programme at the high-performance training centre, located in Karnataka, India.

Setanta College is a European Higher Education Institution with campus locations in both Ireland and the UK. With EU accreditation, the programmes are significantly valuable and sought after the world over. Whereas, founded by the JSW Group, Inspire Institute of Sport is a state-of-the-art facility that is the base for many of India’s leading Olympic athletes.

Dr. Liam Hennessy, Setanta College President, said “We are delighted to partner with Inspire Institute of Sport to deliver our MSc in Performance Coaching at such a high-calibre training centre. The partnership allows us to leverage the world-class facilities at IIS, ensuring students learn the most current methodologies and are at the cutting edge of technology. Sport in India is at an exciting juncture and we are delighted to play our part in developing the skills of the next generation of coaches, led by our world-leading lecturing faculty.”

An internationally renowned provider of higher education in human performance and sports science, Setanta College operates campus locations across Ireland, the UK, South Africa, the USA, and now India. Programmes are delivered through a blended learning format, with lectures provided in an online classroom while students also attend practical workshops at one of the above locations.

The sports arm of the JSW Group, JSW Sports, led the creation of IIS – the first high-performance training centre of its kind in India. Spread over 42 acres, IIS was founded in 2014 and aims to maximise athletes’ potential and deliver medal-winning performances at the Olympic Games. JSW Sports also operates the elite sporting teams Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru FC, and Haryana Steelers.

Rushdee Warley, CEO of IIS, highlights, “We are delighted to partner with Setanta College to introduce for the first time in India and possibly one of the first times internationally a set of practical programmes, taught by leading practitioners, at a practice-based campus at IIS. The course, MSc in Performance Coaching Programme aims to allow students to gain advanced knowledge of sports sciences through an integrated learning.”

Enterprise Ireland helped Setanta College understand the Indian market and make connections with relevant decision-makers from the sector. Speaking about Setanta College’s link with JSW Sports at the Inspire Institute of Sport, Mr. Abhinav Bhatia, Director, India & South Asia, Enterprise Ireland mentioned, “The opportunity in the Indian market is immense, but it requires a tailored approach to leverage it. Enterprise Ireland is happy to support Setanta College as it continues to scale its journey in India. Although COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on the education and fitness industry, this newly designed program allows students from Sports Science to get the opportunity to study highly practical content taught by industry experts, situated at one of the world’s leading high-performance facilities at IIS.”

Highlighting Enterprise Ireland’s backing to Setanta College, Mr. Abhinav adds, “Enterprise Ireland has provided support to Setanta College in many markets globally. With our strong connections in India, we have helped them navigate through the process of entering and understanding the Indian market. Apart from this, as an Irish government agency, we are assisting them to promote their brand to gain more visibility and be noticed by the right partners.”

Since launching in India, Setanta College has worked with organisations such as BCCI on coach education programmes. With the global demand for professionals in Strength & Conditioning and Performance Coaching increasing, the MSc in Performance Coaching programme aims to bridge the gap between educational, coaching, and application needs. Students can enrol on the programme in both September and March each year. To know more, please visit: https://www.setantacollege.com/our-courses/master-of-science-in-performance-coaching/