The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) is the first domestic university involved in sports business education. Unique disciplines filled with Olympic values and experience are taught within its walls. The institution's activities are focused on the training of sports management specialists for the sports industry, Olympic and Paralympic movements.
Description
The birth date of the school is October 21, 2009. On this day, IOC officials, the Russian Olympic Committee and members of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee signed a memorandum on the formation of a non-profit autonomous institution - the Russian International Olympic University. The founders of RIOU are the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, the ROC and the private investment company Interros.
The main form of education is the one-year Master of Sports Administration (MSA) course. Today, the university is an international center of learning and a platform for multilateral dialogue between researchers and practitioners of Olympic education. The list of current partners includes more than a dozen universities in Eurasia and North America.
The educational activities of the Russian International Olympic University are focused on the following areas:
- sports and infrastructure management;
- hosting an event;
- mass communication;
- sports career management;
- administration and diplomacy.
Mission
The purpose of the unique program:
- Create a university of the future - the most advanced in the field of Olympic education.
- Preserve the legacy of the Sochi Winter Games 2014.
- To prepare the leaders of the domestic sports industry.
- Create new generation research facilities for the Olympic Movement.
Study
Currently, RIOU (Sochi) provides 22 full-time and distance training courses in sports and the Olympic movement, focusing on various audiences in the sports industry in Russia and around the world. The duration of the programs is from 24 hours to 39 weeks.
In 2010, the Russian International Olympic University launched over a dozen educational programs ordered by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee. A year later, RIOU prepared special training courses for Russian regional sports leaders, employees of Olimpstroy and municipal employees of the city of Sochi.
The one-year graduate course (MSA) was launched in September 2013. This special program was developed by a group of leading Russian and foreign experts in accordance with the original RIOU concept, which was approved by the IOC.
One of the best
In 2017, the influential British magazine Sport-Business International awarded 2nd place to the Russian International Olympic University among all European postgraduate sports courses. In the future, the university plans to launch a graduate school of higher sports management ExMSA.
Since 2010, RIOU has conducted various courses for more than 3,000 people, including representatives of local authorities and sports organizations from almost 80 regions of Russia. Today, the University of Sports holds a number of short-term programs: qualification courses for retired athletes, sports officials from the regional authorities of Russia. As well as seminars on Paralympic sports, barrier-free environment and Olympic hospitality.
By the way, the administration represented by Rector Lev Belousov launched a unique publishing program for Russia, including the quarterly popular science magazine RIOU Herald. And also the RIOU library (RIOU), consisting of memoirs, archives, research works on the history of the Olympiad, philosophy of the Olympic movement.
Campus
The campus of RIOU on the street Ordzhonikidze in Sochi can serve as an example of innovative building technologies and new environmental standards. This multifunctional complex was designed by well-known Russian architects Vladimir Korotaev (Grado architectural firm) and Vladimir Plotkin (TO Reserve) in partnership with the British architectural firm PRP Architects.
The complex with an area of more than 90,000 m² includes:
- four high-rise buildings;
- academic and administrative building with underground parking for 270 cars;
- hotels and apart-hotel for teachers and students.
When developing the project, the designers sought to create an educational institution of the highest level, which could provide, among other things, comfortable housing for teachers and applicants. As well as a modern communication platform for sports and business circles. The entire territory is supported by Wi-Fi and LTE networks, lectures are equipped with video conferencing equipment.
Campus buildings are connected in the center by a conference hall, the largest in the south of Russia. The aerial view of the campus structure resembles a compass. Such an unconventional architectural solution allowed the formation of four spacious sites between structures with driveways and green recreation areas.
Up to 500 students can stay at the university simultaneously and at any time. RIOU can be regarded not only as a key element of the Sochi-2014 Heritage, but also as a true center of education, culture and business activity.
Library
The RIOU Library is a modern and easy-to-use platform that offers more than 6,000 books on the sports industry in English and Russian. Thematic areas of knowledge are diverse: management, security, marketing, economics, politics, law, career development, research.
The library has three electronic reading rooms equipped with an RFID system. The RFID program simplifies the search and duplication of books in minutes, which allows students and staff to work comfortably and efficiently. An automatic library terminal, book return unit, shutter reader and electronic marking allow you to independently return materials and ensure the safety of collections. Student ID cards subscribe to the reader.
All library elements are indexed in an electronic catalog and available on the Internet. Users can perform basic or advanced search queries, make online queries.
RIOU ensures the preservation of the information heritage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. The RIOU library has exclusive books and magazines in Russian, English, French, Chinese and other languages donated by the International Olympic Committee. It also contains all materials related to the Olympic Games, including photo and video documents issued by Olympstroy (the state corporation that built all the Olympic facilities in Sochi). One of the main goals of the library is to provide access to the Sochi 2014 heritage for informational, scientific, non-commercial, educational, cultural purposes.
Contacts
The educational activity of RIOU is concentrated in Sochi, where modern university facilities are located. The campus is located at: Krasnodar Territory, Sochi, ul. Ordzhonikidze, 11. The main office is located in Moscow, its contact details: 127055, Moscow, ul. Novoslobodskaya, 23.