Elite basketball players celebrate graduation with Northumbria

Northumbria University, Newcastle, is proud to celebrate the achievements of the third cohort of TIME-OUT graduates, a unique international programme that prepares elite basketball players for life and careers beyond the sport.

Developed by Northumbria's Newcastle Business School in partnership with FIBA Europe - the European office of the Basketball World Governing body - TIME-OUT equips professional athletes with the tools, knowledge and qualifications needed to transition from the court to the workplace. The latest graduation ceremony, held at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Switzerland, recognised 42 former elite players who have successfully completed the programme.

The year-long hybrid course combines academic learning with industry insight, including a postgraduate certificate in Business Management and a Manager in Business of Sport qualification from FIBA. Students benefit from online sessions and in-person workshops in Newcastle, Geneva, and Athens, ensuring both academic rigour and real-world application.

The programme has rapidly become a benchmark in athlete career transition, offering graduates opportunities to move into business, leadership and management roles within sport and beyond. Among this year’s standout achievers were Paris 2024 silver medallist Vega Gimeno Martinez, Belgian international Sam Van Rossom, and Greek star Pinelopi Pavlopoulou, all of whom received the Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor Award from Northumbria for outstanding academic performance.

Celebrating their achievements, participants praised the balance of academic challenge and professional development. Van Rossom described the programme as “a strong preparation for potential careers within or beyond sport,” while Gimeno highlighted the value of building skills in management, communication and business, alongside the support of peers undergoing the same transition.

Senior leaders from FIBA, including Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and President Jorge Garbajosa, attended the ceremony to congratulate the graduates, emphasising the programme’s role in transforming how athletes prepare for life after professional sport.

Vincent Robson, Business Development Manager at Northumbria, said: “This milestone reflects the University’s mission to provide real-world and life-changing opportunities, helping individuals from all backgrounds – including world-class athletes – to develop skills that drive careers and strengthen communities worldwide.”

With the next cohort of TIME-OUT scheduled to launch in 2026, Northumbria continues to play a central role in shaping this international initiative, reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in education, innovation and collaboration with the sports industry.

FIBA has been working in partnership with Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School to deliver the programme since it was launched in 2017.