Sport Development
Introduction
Sport Development with Physical Education is a continually evolving programme that prides itself on its currency, its links to the industry and its philosophy about developing student potential and delivering a fantastic student experience.
The staff team are committed and passionate, both to their subject and to the student experience. As a group they have worked in all areas of sport development and continue to maintain and create links with the industry thereby ensuring that the information delivered to students is current and future focused. In 2010 the programme team won the Liverpool Student Union outstanding programme team award and in 2011 was short-listed in the same category. Within these awards 50% of the staff team where either nominated, shortlisted or won individual awards.
Programme Rationale
The philosophy of the staff team is around developing the potential of the students, delivering a theoretically underpinned curriculum and ensuring the most current and up-to-date knowledge. The personal development of the student is at the core of the experience, with all students working with their personal tutor and within a peer learning group to support and enhance their development. The following quotes are taken from the National Student Survey 2011.
“Staff support and feedback is excellent. Staff are willing to help in anyway possible.”
“Tutors are fantastic, always there to help and love what they teach.”
“My personal tutor has been so helpful throughout the three years!”
All students are enrolled on Sport Development with Physical Education and spend the first year of study exploring both these concepts whilst also being introduced to the themes that run through the degree. Within this first year students working with in their tutor groups have the opportunity to working the community and support a live sport development initiative. To allow choice and specialism to be explored the degree then splits into five routes;
- Sport development
- Sport development with physical education
- Sport development with health and physical activity
- Sport development with the business of sport
- Sport development with inclusion
Dissertations, work based learning and teaching are linked to each of these routes to ensure the students can study the area that most interest them and link this to their future employment. Work related learning runs throughout the degree, case studies are used to solve problems, external speakers bring in real life scenarios and the students get to experience at least 40 days in the workplace of their choice. Together with the more theoretical understanding ensures that the students have a rounded view of the subject, can be critical and analytical and can manage themselves and others to hit targets.
This programme has excellent results on all fronts in the 2011 NSS, the students awarded the programme an overall satisfaction rating of 91% and the following scores;
- 93% for teaching on the course with 100% of students saying that staff are good at explaining things
- 81% for assessment and feedback with 91% for detailed comments on work
- 89% for academic support
- 90% for organisation and management
- 90% for personal development
The course offered great opportunities to access the 'real world' of sports development. Firstly, through a module in year 1 where students could coach at many primary schools and made links with school staff. In second year work placement was encouraged by lecturers to stay involved, with a view to greater opportunities. Then, in second year summer, the opportunity for 6 students to go to Namibia to experience sports development abroad, making vital links with important organisations in sport such as UK Sport. In the third year, as well as encouraged to find work/voluntary placements, the ECIS module is a fantastic way of allowing the student to engage in activities that again put you in touch with the industry. Therefore, overall, I believe the course has been effective in preparing me for work in the field of sports development, and also continued support for external activity, i.e. flexible deadlines to fit around me and my needs as an individual student. (Final year student)
