28 Sep 2025
Aspire Academy has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KKS Lech Poznań, one of Poland’s biggest football clubs. This five-year renewable agreement focuses on a strategic educational partnership aimed at enhancing the development of student-athletes through innovative training, academic support, and cross-cultural collaboration.
The MoU was signed by Aspire Academy’s School Principal, Jassem Al Jaber, and Amilcar Carvalho, the Technical Director at KKS Lech Poznań. The ceremony was attended by senior Aspire Academy officials, including Ali Salem Afifa, Deputy Director General, and Badr Al Hay, Chief of Education and Student Affairs Officer, as well as Alicja Heblik, Head of School and Education at KKS Lech Poznan.
The collaboration brings together Aspire Academy’s expertise in elite student-athlete education and Lech Poznań’s rich tradition in sports development. The partnership will help create comprehensive training programs, foster academic growth, and promote best practices in balancing athletic and educational pursuits.
“We are excited to sign this agreement with one of Poland’s most famous clubs and to share ideas with them as one of the pioneers in the education of elite student-athletes,” Jassem Al Jaber stated.
“It'll be focusing on things such as professional development for staff from both establishments and offering opportunities for the student-athlete to connect and share ideas, as well as developing the quality of learning.”
“We also aim to learn from them. For example, their programme includes 38 student-athletes, which means they enjoy individualised and personalised learning. So we will have the opportunity to see how they achieve that and implement those ideas with our student-athletes who require it.”
KKS Lech Poznan’s Alicja Heblik was excited by the opportunities for both parties in the future.
“We are truly honoured and privileged to sign this understanding between our organisations, and this is because of our common and shared goals,” she said.
“Both institutions are focused on raising the quality of education and the standards of student-athlete wellbeing, while also supporting them in the pursuit of their sporting careers.”
“This is such a great opportunity for our students to discover one another’s culture and perspectives through relationships.”
“We are hoping to learn from Aspire, for example, how to inspire people, how to use individualisation, how we can equip our staff, our students with the knowledge and skills, so that they can believe they have an impact on the future of our world.”
The MoU outlined the Key Areas of Collaboration:
· Educational Program Development: Both parties will co-design and implement academic programs tailored to the unique needs of student-athletes, sharing curricula, resources, and strategies for managing dual commitments.
· Academic Support Services: The partnership will introduce tailored academic support, mentoring, and intercultural exchange programs to enhance learning outcomes and personal growth.
· Professional Development for Educators: Joint workshops, seminars, and job-shadowing opportunities will be organised for educators and support staff, encouraging the exchange of insights and innovative approaches.
· Research and Educational Innovation: Aspire Academy and Lech Poznań will collaborate on research projects focused on student-athlete motivation, time management, and holistic learning, sharing findings to improve educational outcomes.
· Joint Events and Community Engagement: The agreement includes co-hosting academic symposiums, webinars, and conferences, as well as promoting community engagement through educational outreach.
A joint steering committee will oversee the implementation of the MoU, ensuring regular communication, evaluation, and documentation of outcomes.