PCA Offers Two University Scholarships

University scholarships for degrees in sustainability will be awarded to two current or former cricketers as part of the PCA’s official education partnership with GEDU Global Education.

The offer is a sign of development for the PCA, both in the association’s continued working relationship with GEDU Global Education and its Front Foot Action sustainability plan.

Successful applicants will be able to choose between a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Global Sustainable Development at MLA College or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) top-up course worth 120 credits, with a 100% funded scholarship and a 50% funded scholarship available.

The BSc top-up course is a Level 6 course enabling students to turn an existing qualification, like a foundation degree or evidence of relevant work experience and prior learning, into a full bachelor’s degree over two years of part-time study.

It comes after four playing members of the PCA’s Front Foot Action working group completed MLA College’s ByteSize Short Courses during pre-season.

Hampshire and England batter Maia Bouchier, The Blaze wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, Somerset batter Emma Corney and Yorkshire’s World Cup winning bowler Beth Langston all completed the courses as Front Foot Action ambassadors.

The online course introduced the players to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through video learning and quizzes.

While a significant step up from the ByteSize Short Courses, MLA College’s degree courses will also be delivered fully online, similarly designed to upskill players in the field of sustainability alongside their playing careers.

With applications open to former and current players, the degrees are also well suited to professionals looking to transition into sustainability from other sectors, or even progress into leadership roles in their current organisations.

The BSc top-up course focuses on global sustainability challenges, specifically the UN SDGs, exploring climate change and sustainable policy.

The postgraduate MSc, while still centred around the UN SDGs, delves further into international development and business, advancing the analytical skills needed for real-world sustainability leadership.

Both courses are validated by the University of Plymouth, with the MSc available as part or full-time, taking either a year or 32 months and the BSc top-up lasting two years.

The scholarships are an addition to the Personal Development and Welfare Programme’s current educational schemes, which recently increased to fund half of any individual personal development course up to £2,000, with PCA Reps receiving £2,500.

GEDU Global Education sponsors the PCA’s Futures Conference, an annual two-day event in November that helps current players map out their careers as they transition away from playing.

Somerset batter, Emma Corney, said: “There is hope for combating climate change – we have a lot of the answers already. It was interesting how low-level technology solutions are often just as impactful as large, high-cost solutions.

“I would recommend GEDU, the format is straightforward and the content is engaging. It was a really well-constructed course with relevant and up to date information.”

The Blaze and Scotland wicketkeeper, Sarah Bryce, said: “The structure of the bite-sized videos along with the questions to reiterate the key points were a great way to learn about a few of the different sustainability goals.

“It was great to gain a deeper understanding of the breadth of the importance of sustainability: how it is about much more than just the environment but the economic, social and cultural factors as well.”

Principal and CEO of MLA College, Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, said: “At MLA College, we are proud to work alongside the PCA to support their members in developing their knowledge beyond the game.

“Sustainability leadership will increasingly shape the future of sport, business and society, and these scholarships provide current and former cricketers with a flexible pathway to build meaningful expertise while continuing their professional journeys.”

Managing Director External Engagement and Sustainability at GEDU Global Education, Kevin McCole, said: “We are proud of our partnership with the PCA, connecting its members to education opportunities that will help prepare them for life and careers beyond cricket.

“It’s really exciting that our colleagues at MLA College are offering these two sustainability scholarships, which will be life changing for the successful PCA members.”

PCA Head of Personal Development and Welfare Programme, Lynsey Williams, said: “We’re so pleased to continue to work with GEDU. We believe it’s important our members can access a range of education, from accessible short courses to entire university degrees, and this is a big step towards that.”

PCA Director of People & EDI, Donna Fraser, said: “Sustainability is such a key issue, particularly for cricket, so we are proud to be encouraging and helping our members learn and thrive in this industry.”

Click here to find out more about the PDWP and the Front Foot Action Sustainability Plan.