Source of professionalism and knowledge among sport industry professionals in India with limited sport management higher education

A comprehensive review of the literature reveals that sports industry research is progressing in every country worldwide at its own pace. However, there is very little research evidence about the Indian sports industry and the country's limited higher education sport management programs. While India has some of the most ardent sports fans and events in the world, sport management education programs and the development of a proper curriculum in India are still in their nascent stage especially in comparison to the United States and Europe. This quantitative study investigated the current standards of education in India and the source of knowledge and competencies of existing professionals in the Indian industry. Sports industry professionals were randomly selected to complete the COSM survey on Qualtrics and rate their perceived knowledge and professionalism on a Likert scale. Respondents answered questions involving their competencies, experiences, educational backgrounds, years of experience in the sport industry. MANOVA was used to measure the degree to which the various independent variables impact the current knowledge and competencies of India's sports industry professionals. The results support an educational strategy that values informal learning methods by recommending for the inclusion of experiential learning in sport management curriculum. Furthermore, the results also align with work-based learning theories by supporting an experiential learning environment and emphasizing the critical role that real-world experience plays in developing professional competencies. Specifically for the Indian sport industry and curriculum enhancement, the study recommended inserting experiential learning experiences, internships as a requirement for graduation before entering the sport industry. Additionally, this study also emphasizes on collaborations with local, national, and international sport events and organizations such as the Sports Authority of India, Ministry of Youth Sports Affairs, Indian Premier League, Indian Soccer League, FIBA, BCCI and collaboration with established university curriculums in countries like USA, Australia, and Europe in the form of semester abroad, study abroad, or online classes. This quantitative study may contribute to the limited academic literature available to Indian sports practitioners. Additionally, it may synthesize knowledge from previous work on professionalism and curriculum development providing a springboard for new research that will fill the existing knowledge gaps.