UPEC Link Continues to Grow

The international connection with the University of Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC) continues to provide valuable learning opportunities for UCLan students.

Last October, we were visited by staff and students from UPEC. During their visit, our lecturers here at UCLan delivered sessions relating to PE and coaching for both our current students as well as our friends from Paris. This was a great opportunity for students to meet one another and share ideas, discussing the cultural and pedagogical differences between coaching and PE in France and the UK.

Additionally, in April 2016, some of our students were given the opportunity to visit UPEC. Students and staff spent 6 days in Paris where they visited the French Institute of Sport, observed training in a professional football club setting, participated in various practical sessions as well as exploring some of Paris’ landmarks. Our students were delighted as none of them had previously visited Paris!

Itinerary

Day One: Staff and students were given a warm welcome by staff and students at UPEC who outlined the plans for the trip. They showcased their facilities and explained their programmes of study. There was also the opportunity to observe and participate in some undergraduate and postgraduate classes.

Day Two: Use of UPEC’s performance analysis lab, giving our students the opportunity to use new technology and explore how performance analysis is used in French sport. In the afternoon, UCLan staff delivered sessions on fundamental movement skills.

Day Three: Observation of professional football club training.

Day Four: Visit to the French Institute of Sport to observe the French Olympic Team preparing for the Rio Olympics hosted by the Head of Sports Science.

Day Five: Staff and students from both institutions spent the day on a cultural visit to Paris city centre. This involved visits to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Day Six: Unfortunately, it was time to fly home…

Sports Studies student Mia Frew, who recently started her Masters in Sports Coaching gave her thoughts on the experience:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the recent trip to Paris. The opportunity to look at a number of schools in Paris was extremely interesting as it gave an alternative approach to PE teaching in comparison to the UK. The trip also gave us the chance to visit the French Institute of Sport, this was a definite highlight of the trip as I was able to see a number of top class facilities in a wide variety of sports ranging from gymnastics to diving." 

"Whilst at the French Institute we also had the chance to look at the performance analysis and sports science labs. The opportunity to work with another University in Paris allowed me to widen my knowledge and experience of PE studies and sports coaching and allowed me to gain confidence when starting my Sports Coaching Masters this September.”

Mia Frew (front left) with staff Craig Wright, Andy Sprake and Andy Procter

UCLan wins funding from HEFECE Catalyst Fund for new project

Academics from UCLan and St Mary's University have successfully won £22,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council of England’s (HEFCE) Catalyst Fund.

They plan to launch a 18-month project, designed by John Stoszkowski (Sports Coaching) from UCLan, Liam McCarthy and Joana Fonseca (Physical and Sport Education) from St Mary’s University. It will see students across both institutions engage in peer teaching, critical conversation and collaborative reflection connected to their existing modules during the next academic year.

This process will use the latest technology and software for recording, analyzing and feeding back on applied coaching practice. Creating a supervised environment where students will be challenged to comment, critique and share ideas about theirs and their peers’ applied professional practice.

Dr John Stoszkowski commented, "We're delighted to have secured HEFCE funding to deliver what should be quite a unique project in the sector. The initiative is perfectly aligned with the values and ambition of both educational institutions and provides a fantastic opportunity for staff and students to work collaboratively to enhance their learning experience. The students involved will get the opportunity to explore and reshape their understanding from different contexts of coaching practice, while developing highly values professional skills such as self and peer- reflection, critical analysis and effective communication with mentors and peers. We also hope any research findings emanating from the project will go some way to informing and enhancing the development of formal coach education programmes more generally too."

They also hope the project will contribute evidence-based pedagogical strategies to coach education in both the higher education sector and formal national governing body qualifications, leading to the development of more auto-critical coaches capable of better adapting to the complexity of effective coaching practice.

For more enquires please contact JRStoszkowski@uclan.ac.uk

UCLan BA (Hons) Sports Coaching & Development student making a difference as a Community Trust Coach at FTFC

Matt Chadwich is a 2nd year BA (Hons) Sports Coaching and Development student who has been working part time as a Community Trust coach alongside his studies. He began his coaching journey by volunteering at a summer camp in 2016, after 200 hours of volunteering work he got a offered a job as a part time Community Trust Coach at Fleetwood Town FC.

Matt says "There's two sides to Community Trusts, there's the school side and the community side. I go into primary schools and take P.E. lessons, I do lunch time activities and after school clubs. I have recently started going into high schools as well."


"The community side of things is about making a difference to people's lives within the Fleetwood area. I take football development sessions at the training ground for kids. I go into areas at night time  and set up football matches to help get kids off the street, I also go into care homes to spend time with the elderly."