Sports courses recognised by Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity as meeting professional standards
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has become one of the first UK universities to have undergraduate degree programmes endorsed by the sport and physical activity sector's professional standards framework.
The higher education endorsement programme has been developed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and its ten higher education partners over the past 18 months, and approved by sector employers, to create an endorsement and recognition process for UK sport and physical activity-related degree programmes.
Endorsed degree programmes are certified as meeting employer-set professional standards – an employability benchmark making clear the job roles a student completing the programme is qualified for.
Both the BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science courses have been endorsed by CIMSPA in relation to the roles of Personal Trainer and CIMSPA Gym Instructor. In addition, students studying on the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Performance and BA (Hons) Sports Coaching Development will gain a degree endorsed by CIMSPA to meet its Coach professional standards. Finally, the BSc (Hons) Sport Business Management is now aligned with the Entry and General Management professional standards.
UCLan was one of the first universities to partner with CIMSPA and has been consistently working with the professional body. This includes improving work placement and internship opportunities and developing a national graduate training programme for the sector.
Dr Adrian Ibbetson, Head of the School of Sport and Wellbeing and Academic Director of Sport at UCLan, said: “We are proud to be part of the process of helping CIMSPA to professionalise the sport and physical activity sector.
“The fact that our degrees are endorsed by the newly created professional standards recognises the fact that our programmes are academically rigorous but also embed real-world, authentic learning and assessment experiences. Therefore, the industry can employ and deploy our graduates with confidence.”
Richard Millard, Chair of the professional development board, said: “On behalf of the Sport and Physical Activity Sector Professional Development Board we congratulate the University of Central Lancashire in achieving CIMSPA endorsement for BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science. We are delighted to see the employer developed Professional Standards have been included enabling the development of work ready graduates.”
UCLan has two other associated courses with CIMSPA: BA (Hons) Outdoor Adventure Leadership and BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education.