A new international partnership between Brock University’s Sport Management (SPMA) program and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) is set to create fresh opportunities for researchers, athletes and sport leaders on both sides of the globe.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two organizations will work together over the next five years to advance sport governance, deliver specialized training and foster collaborative research.

ZOC President Thabani Gonye called the initiative a bold step toward shared excellence.

“We are excited to start this groundbreaking partnership with Brock University, which will raise the bar for academic and athletic achievement in Zimbabwe,” he said. “This MOU represents our mutual dedication to promoting innovation, enabling scholars and athletes and strengthening cultural ties between our countries. We are opening up a world of possibilities for our young people and sports community through exchange programs, research projects and mutual learning. Together we shall accomplish greatness.”

The partnership began taking shape during Associate Professor of Sport Management Shannon Kerwin’s 2024 sabbatical, when she was working with the Dream Together Masters program at Seoul National University. There, she met Zimbabwean sport leader Lovemore Mhlanga, who introduced her to ZOC Special Programs Officer Lawrence Kamukapa.

Conversations quickly revealed shared goals in building the ZOC’s research capacity and tapping into Brock’s expertise in safe sport, governance and human resource management.

Alongside Kerwin, SPMA Assistant Professors Taylor McKee and Michael Van Bussel are expected to contribute to the collaboration, with the Centre for Sport Capacity playing a key role in developing micro-credential programming.

Planned activities include delivering training modules on safe sport practices, governance best practices and human resource management strategies for ZOC board members.

The initiative will also feature a research project examining how governance is applied within Zimbabwe’s regional sport system and how those practices can be shared with ZOC partners.

“For the ZOC, this partnership brings access to Brock’s research expertise and training resources that can strengthen sport governance in Zimbabwe,” Kerwin said. “For Brock, it’s an opportunity to learn from the lived realities of sport in a decolonial context and to engage with leaders shaping sport on the international stage.”

Long-term goals include offering ZOC members access to Brock’s online sport management courses, enabling them to earn credits or micro-credentials.

“This collaboration aligns with Brock’s International Strategic Plan, which prioritizes building impactful global partnerships, advancing cross-cultural understanding and creating meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange,” said Christina Bosilo, Director of Brock International.