18 October 2012 Lincoln University and the Asia Pacific Football Academy sign high performance sport agreement with Delhi University

A memorandum of understanding has today been signed between Delhi University, India and Lincoln University/Asia Pacific Football Academy (APFA).

“This ‘educational partnership agreement’ opens the door for collaboration between the two universities in the areas of sport and sports science – in particular, in partnership with the Asia Pacific Football Academy, which is based on Lincoln University’s campus,” says Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University, Stefanie Rixecker.

“The agreement outlines several areas of potential exchange including player and coach training programmes; joint academic or research projects for postgraduate or doctoral students; and exchange visits for students and staff. The first programme of activity is scheduled to take place in the next few months and will be run by the Asia Pacific Football Academy for football players and coaches.”

Delhi University has over 40 football (soccer) teams and strongly supports this rapidly growing sport in India. The unique partnership between the Asia Pacific Football Academy and Lincoln University makes Lincoln an ideal destination for Delhi University’s top sports performers to receive intensive, tailored training.

“The first team to head this way will be Delhi University’s top women’s team. 18 players plus high performance coaching staff will visit APFA later this year or in early 2013 for three weeks of training, testing, sports science and conditioning. This kind of whole-team training isn’t new to the Academy but the opportunity to work with an overseas university with such a depth of football talent means we hope to see several of their teams coming through the system – and Delhi University should see significant performance improvements as a result,” says Andy Smith, Managing Director, APFA.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Lincoln University and the Asia Pacific Football Academy by Penny Fenwick, Executive Director, Universities NZ, who has travelled to India with the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Hon Steven Joyce. The delegation is visiting India specifically to lift New Zealand’s profile as a destination for international students and to support New Zealand’s tertiary institutions and companies seeking to grow their business in the Indian market.

“There are many potential areas of collaboration between Lincoln University – as New Zealand’s specialist land-based university – and Indian tertiary institutions, and we already have many Indian students on campus studying a range of subjects from commerce to agricultural science, at postgraduate and undergraduate level. I speak on behalf of Lincoln University and the Asia Pacific Football Academy in saying we are delighted to be entering into an agreement with Delhi University at this time,” adds Stefanie Rixecker.