Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Global Education (GEDU) collaborates for the 2025-27 Futures Conferences as PCA Education Partner.
The PCA has entered into a three-year partnership with Global Education (GEDU) as the official Education Partner.
The agreement will see GEDU become the primary partner of the PCA Futures Conference, a two-day event which is the centrepiece of Futures Week and encourages its members to explore other career interests, enabling them to take early measures to plan their future or aspire to have a dual career alongside playing cricket.
The PCA Futures Conference, in association with GEDU, aims to aid members in creating opportunities and providing continual growth in their personal development. The event prioritises players transition into a career beyond the cricket pitch. GEDU’s presence will create further opportunities to explore education as a potential interest away from the field.
GEDU’s involvement at the flagship event of the Futures Week will enable them to co-create the agenda in conjunction with the PCA personal development and welfare team and network with the past and current players present.
The new partnership will also see former England captain and Essex legend Sir Alastair Cook named as a Global Brand Ambassador for the duration of the three years.
Across the partnership, GEDU’s aim is to inspire past and present cricketers to reconnect with education and spread awareness to communities through the power of cricket. Partnering with the PCA will now allow members to have a wide range of courses to choose from GEDU’s library. The courses range from numerous undergraduate degrees in business to Masters in various fields like finance, marketing, entrepreneurship amongst further specialist areas, with flexible certificate and diploma courses available in part-time and full-time options.
“Education teaches important values and skills which also transfers into the life of a cricketer, something this partnership with the PCA will bring to life.”
SIR ALASTAIR COOK
GEDU is a UK education group including higher education, apprenticeships and English language provision operating in 12 countries, including UK, USA, Germany, France, Australia and India. They offer online and onsite courses and degrees in various fields and locations, to suit the needs of the students, allowing more people to study at their own pace and convenience.
The 2024 Futures Conference was held in November at St. George’s Park, the main training facilities of the England national football teams. The event was attended by male and female players at different stages of their careers and personal development, including Ed Barnard, Cameron Steel, Katie Levick and Olivia Bell.
The Futures Conference will return in 2025, in association with GEDU and will take place in the off-season after the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season.
PCA Managing Director of Member Services, Ian Thomas, said: “As the Futures Conference enters its ninth year in 2025, the PCA is pleased to have GEDU on board to elevate the flagship event of our Personal Development and Welfare Programme.
“As an Association, we are constantly striving to learn and develop to support our members and partnering with GEDU will provide greater opportunities for past and present players with a shared objective of helping the cricket community on and off the field.
“There is no age limit to learning and with our new partnership with GEDU, our members can broaden their horizons and find out what interests them at any stage of their personal development journey.”
GEDU Global Brand Ambassador, Sir Alastair Cook, said: “I am looking forward to working with GEDU over the next three years, highlighting their great work to a wider audience.
“Their vast range of courses means there is something for everybody and through cricket, we will work together to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life to encourage continuous learning.
“Education teaches important values and skills which also transfers into the life of a cricketer, something this partnership with the PCA will bring to life.”
GEDU Deputy CEO, Professor Ray Lloyd, said: “We are really excited to enter into this partnership with the PCA as part of our mission to provide transformative, high quality, educational opportunities to as many people as possible. During my career I have been fortunate to work with elite performers in a range of sports, including cricket, and understand the sacrifices they have to make to reach their potential in their chosen sport, often giving up the chance to achieve the qualifications they are capable of.
“This partnership is intended to allow PCA members to succeed in gaining those qualifications as their professional careers come to an end and to achieve their full potential in preparation for a new career.
“We are also delighted to be working with Sir Alastair Cook as our Global Brand Ambassador. Not only is he one of the all-time greats of world cricket but also someone who, throughout his career, has conducted himself in an impeccable fashion, demonstrating values entirely consistent with those of the GEDU group.”
To learn more about GEDU, click here
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Name of Author: Professional Cricketers Association
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), founded in 1967 by former England fast bowler Fred Rumsey as the Cricketers’ Association, represents past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales. In the 1970s, the PCA established a standard employment contract and minimum wage for professional cricketers. It also helped create a pension scheme in 1995 and launched the magazine All Out Cricket and the ACE UK Educational Programme in 2002.
