CIMSPA higher education partnership pilot scheme up and running

25 January 2018

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity has today (Thursday 25 January 2018) launched the CIMSPA Higher Education Partnership Pilot scheme. The two-year pilot will finalise the endorsement and recognition process for UK sport and physical activity-related degree programmes.

The universities taking part in the pilot are: Canterbury Christ Church University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University, Southampton Solent University, University of Bolton, University of Brighton, University of Cumbria, University of Central Lancashire, University of Hertfordshire and University of St Mark and St John.

Once the pilot is complete, all degree programmes relating to occupations within the sport and physical activity sector will be eligible to be endorsed and quality assured by CIMSPA – the sector’s chartered professional body.

Endorsed degree programmes will be certified as meeting employer-set professional standards – an employability benchmark making clear the job roles a student completing the programme is qualified for.

During the pilot, higher education partners will support the development of new CIMSPA membership categories that recognise academic, research and insight professionals, with a pathway to chartered membership.

Other ambitions for the partnership include improving work placement and internship opportunities and the development of a national graduate training programme for the sector.

Students studying degree programmes associated with the pilot scheme will be introduced to their sector’s professional body and receive a range of affiliation benefits, including access to free eLearning via the CIMSPA Academy.

Speaking about the partnership pilot launch, Tara Dillon, CIMSPA CEO said: “We are very pleased to be launching our Higher Education Partnership Pilot scheme and to be starting substantive work on an endorsement framework our sector is keen to embrace.

“The 10 universities taking part in the pilot are at the forefront of working to ensure their graduates successfully transition into employment and I would like to applaud all of our new partners for their forward-thinking ethos and commitment to excellence.”

Full information about the 10 universities taking part in the pilot scheme can be found in our Higher Education Partnership Pilot scheme directory HERE.

Quotes from CIMSPA higher education partnership pilot scheme partners

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Cyncoed) and Dean of the School of Sport & Health Sciences, Professor Leigh Robinson said: “We are delighted to be the first Welsh university to enter into a pilot partnership with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. This scheme will be of enormous benefit to our undergraduate and postgraduate students as it will increase student employability – something that already is of huge importance right across Cardiff Met. I wish the pilot cohort of students all the very best and feel sure they will benefit from this professional accreditation in numerous ways.”

Edge Hill University

Professor Andy Smith, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, said: “We are delighted that Edge Hill University has been selected as one of only 10 higher education institutions to participate in CIMSPA’s work towards the national development and implementation of a single rigorous set of employability and careers-related standards for sport and exercise professionals. Building upon our Gold ranking in the Teaching Excellence Framework, the involvement of the Department of Sport and Physical Activity will enable it to provide its students with valuable, high quality and industry-focused qualifications, continuing professional development opportunities, and essential skills and attributes which prepare them for future graduate employment in the sector.”

University of Brighton

Dr. Marc Keech, Principal Lecturer in the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton said: “The University of Brighton has a long-standing history of professional and vocational education. Our partnership with CIMSPA looks to extend that reputation further and to ensure that all of our nationally recognised sports degrees remain at the forefront of professionally relevant higher education in the future”.

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