Higher Education Sport Development: Examining the Role of the United Kingdom Higher Education Sector in Sport and Physical Activity Mathew Dowling University of St Mark and St John, England Philip Brown University of St Mark and St John, England Paul Salisbury Leeds Trinity University, England

Research Purpose i.To discuss the growing importance of the UKHES in delivery of sport and physical activity ii.To identify potential avenues of future research in relation to UKHES sport development

Changing HE context Change in supply and demand Marketisation and commercialisation of the sector Increasing student numbers (412,170 - places confirmed (UCAS, 2014)) 2.3 Million students Increasing tuition fees (£9000+) FE ‘creep’ into HE market Increasing competition with HEFCE’s removal of student numbers cap from Increasing focus on student experience and ‘value added’ (e.g., NSS, HESPSS)

Changing HE Sporting context Post-London 2012 – political salience of sport Creating a Sporting Habit for Life ( ) – Youth and community (£1 billion over 4 years targeting 14-25) Sport England’s Higher Education Unit – e.g., Active Universities, Sport Activate Formation of BUCS and Podium

Sport, P.A and HEI’s contribution H.E Sport Mass participation initiatives Elite Sport Competition structures Workforce development – sport and teaching workforce Hosting Sports orgs and Agencies Facilities Students and Community use Research Health based interventions (e.g back pain and cancer) School support

HE and Elite Sport The UKHES is increasingly playing an important role in elite sport: 1)Athlete development 2)Facility provision 3)Scientific support 4)Administrative support

HE and Elite Sport 61% of Team GB medal winners have been university educated (since Barcelona) In Beijing, 57% of Team GB athletes were current or ex-students (178/313) In London, 55% of the Team GB cohort was either a current or ex-students. – Rowing (90% current/ex-students) – Athletics (79% current/ex-students) – Field hockey (100%) (BUCS, 2011a; Podium/Universities UK/BUCS, 2012)

HE and Elite Sport At London 2012, 70% (20/29) gold medals won by Team GB were by current/ex-students 26 universities can lay claim to at least one gold medal, with 51 institutions winning at least one medal of any colour The UKHES can lay claim to 12 silver and 10 bronze medals (Podium, 2012b).

HE and Elite Sport RankCountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal 1.USA China GB Russia UKHES (Podium, 2012b). London 2012

HE and Elite Sport 1/3 rd of all universities signed agreements to host training camps for London 2012 University of Surrey hosted 16 Olympic and 2 Paralympic teams in the lead up to London 2012 (e.g., Team GB, USA, Antigua & Barbuda, Singapore, Sweden, Costa Rica) Loughborough University selected as HQ for Team GB (Podium/Universities UK/BUCS, 2012).

HE and Elite Sport United Kingdom Sports Institute (UKSI) - 3/9 hubs based upon or directly connected with HE Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) - £24 million since accredited centres

(1) HE and Participation The UKHES is increasingly playing an important role in delivering participation-based objectives: 1)Informal and recreational provision / facilities 2)Program/initiative implementation (direct intervention – SE HE SD Unit) 3)Sporting competition General Participation: 54.8% (16-to-25) one sport session a week, compared to 31.9% of older adults (26 plus). 10% gender gap. APS9 HE Participation: 67% participate in sport (70% men 64% women). 56% participating once per week. 34% 3 x 30 per week. (HESPS 2014)

(2) HE and Participation – SE intervention Active Universities Sport England initiative ( ) An attempt to increase participation within the HE sector 41 successful bids £8 million NL funding available 160,000 (2%) new participants engaged with Active Universities Sport Activate Builds on ‘Active Universities’ scheme - 3 year initiative £203,065 funding to Marjon Offers heavily subsidized activities (e.g., kayaking, climbing, basketball, sailing, horse riding) Participation measured on a membership basis. £5 annual joining fee.

(3) HE and Participation British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS)– competitive sport infrastructure for University and Colleges. 162 institutions, students affiliate to Student Unions and Athletic Unions. Training transport and completion subsidised by HEIs. Regular competition programme in 52 sports.52 sports BCUCS nationals, BIG Wednesday programmes international events

Summary The UKHES continues to be integral to the delivery of sport policy objectives HE Sport has become an increasingly salient area of government investment The HE sector remains characterised by substantial variation in funding and sporting provision (strategic investment) Research opportunities...

Potential research themes Program/initiative evaluation (e.g., Activation Fund) The evolution and influence of BUCS/Podium UKHES and sport policy Cross-comparison of the HE systems (e.g., Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and BUCS Elite athletes experiences in UKHES The power/social capital of elite athletes in UKHES Influence of scholarships and funding (e.g., TASS) Talent ID and talent development in HE The UKHES and the London 2012 Olympic Games (legacy) Use of sport as a marketing tool by HEI’s Others???

Thank you Mat Dowling Phil Brown