The new Higher Diploma in Personal Branding and Soft Skills for Professional Athletes has been launched by Valencia CF, in collaboration with Valencia's Polytechnic University and the Mas Camarena school in the city.

The agreement for the pioneering University Diploma for professional athletes was signed this Thursday at the club's offices, in the presence of the President of Valencia CF, Anil Murthy, the VCF Academy Director General, Sean Bai, Dean of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, José Capilla, and the Director of the Mas Camarena International School, Maite Marín.

“Player education is very important to us,” explains Mr. Bai.

"In addition to their training on the pitch, development off it is very important. This University Diploma helps us to train footballers and develop people."

"The players of the VCF Academy are young, and we have to help them grow as adults so that they are prepared for any decision they make in the future."

Mas Camarena is an educational center in the Valencia region, and will help with the academic training of the players. The Polytechnic University of Valencia is one of the most prestigious polytechnic institutions in Spain.

The different modules develop transversal skills such as the management of personal finances, emotional abilities, personal branding, basic digital marketing and the management of social media, and entrepreneurship and innovation.

"This Diploma falls squarely within the objectives of the Polytechnic University of Valencia in academic training and sports," explains José Capilla. "The athlete needs training in transversal skills that we can provide with this Diploma."

The first edition of the Higher Diploma features 7 players from the VCF Academy, who until the month of March will participate in the classes held at the Mas Camarena facilities for elite athletes.

"It is a tremendously interesting project," explains Maite Marín, Director of Mas Camarena International Schools. “We are very satisfied to have worked in recent years to develop what will be pioneering training in Spanish football."

The objective in future editions is to offer the diploma to all professional athletes who wish to have this specific training.