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University of Kent leading the field for sports studies

The University of Kent is proving to be one of the country's leading players for delivering sports degrees.

The University's Centre for Sports Studies, based at its Medway campus, now has more than 300 students working towards degrees on its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Kent's new intake of students in September 2009 for its various sports courses was in excess of 140, marking an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year.

Professor Louis Passfield, the University's Director for the Centre for Sports Studies, said Kent was among the fastest-growing academic sports departments in the country. 'The record numbers reflect the fact that the reputation of our sports degrees has spread far and wide, and we are now in great demand, not just within Kent but across the country and overseas. In fact, we expect this level of growth to continue for the next two to three years,' he said.

'We offer our students an excellent experience here at Kent, in both academic and personal terms. We have a highly skilled teaching team, and clearly our students benefit from their expertise.

'We also provide high levels of personal support, outstanding facilities and, above all, a great track record of preparing our students for successful careers in the hugely competitive sports, exercise and leisure industries.'

The University runs three undergraduate sports degree programmes at Medway - Sports Therapy, Health and Fitness; Sport Science and Sport and Exercise Management - and postgraduate degrees including Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.

The Centre for Sports Studies has also received a major boost with the University of Kent's involvement in the £11 million development of nearby Medway Park. Set to become a regional centre of sporting excellence, as well as a pre-Olympic Games training camp, Medway Park will contain dedicated seminar, research and therapy rooms for use by Kent's sports students. It will also be the location for a rehabilitation gym and for the Centre for Sports Studies' commercial sports injury clinic, which gives students the opportunity to work with their own clients under the supervision of experienced clinic staff.

In addition, all Kent students will receive preferential rates to use Medway Park's sports halls, pools, squash courts, health suites and athletics track.

As a senior member of British Cycling, Professor Passfield has helped train a host of Olympic, World and Commonwealth gold medal cyclists, and has also led a research project to improve British cyclists' training programmes in the run-up to the 2012 Games.

He added that the burgeoning research profile at the Centre for Sports Studies was another sign of its growing stature. 'We have secured funding for scientific research from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Sport England and Medway Council, for example, and it's my goal that that the insights and skills we gain as a department are passed directly on to our students,' he said.

'In the end, our reputation will rest with our graduates, and I'm convinced that many will become outstanding practitioners and leaders in their professions.'

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 1:25pm 16 October 2009