University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

The CSDP is involved in a number of projects that fulfil the Centre's mission and aims. Future projects and developments will be considered providing they support the documented mission and aims for the Centre.

Community Classrooms

Working in partnership with the University of Bath and University of Gloucester, UCP Marjon’s CSDP will deliver Community Classrooms (CC). CC will be delivered through the concept of a ‘sports hub’ and is designed to reach out to underrepresented groups in HE and FE. Find out more about RELAYS.

Placement Learning

All students involved in a sport related programme are provided with the opportunity to participate in placement learning as part of their degrees studies. At Postgraduate Diploma level students are also provided with the opportunity to embark on ‘Applied Professional Practice’.

Because of the vocational nature of the degrees offered by the Faculty it recognises the importance of placement learning. Placement learning allows students to complement their academic studies and gain vocationally relevant, ‘hands-on’ practical experience in the areas of their degree: coaching/teaching, sport development, outdoor adventure, health and physical activity, as well as giving students the opportunity to work with groups with specific requirements e.g. young people, people with disabilities or specific health requirements.

Students are encouraged to reflect on, and critically analyse their experiences of being on placement and use the lessons learnt to contextualise their academic studies, put theory into practise and inform both their future studies and chosen career path. The overwhelming amount of feedback received from students and placement providers is positive with many commenting that they felt that the placement process benefited both the student and placement provider.

The CSDP will build on existing good practice to ensure students studying BA/BSc degrees have the opportunity to gain vocational experience to compliment their academic studies. In partnership with the CC project the CSDP aims to develop a broader range of placement opportunities with various placement partners across a range of sectors.

Give to Sport

Build and develop the existing good practice of the Give to Sport project to recruit new members (age 16 and over) who have a desire to develop within the field of sport and physical activity.

Develop relationships with key organisations to promote job, volunteering, officiating and CPD opportunities relevant to the Give to Sport membership.

Expand the online information repository to inform Give to Sport members on key topics related to sport and physical activity.

Research & Practical Sport Development Opportunities

In association with the Give to Sport project promote and coordinate the involvement of FSMCA students in research and practical sport development opportunities offered by the CSDP’s key partners. Thus benefitting local partners and FSMCA students.

Leadership

Build links with Sports Leaders UK to provide training for UCP Marjon students to become CSLA tutors to facilitate and increase number of SLA and CSLA courses being offered in schools and the community.

In House Journal

The production of an annual CSDP / Faculty publication containing papers written by lecturers from the Faculty. 3000 word papers can be submitted as ‘work in progress’ and the publication may be used as an entry point for those wishing to develop their interests and publish in mainstream journals. It provides an opportunity to publish in a controlled environment, an aspect of work we are already engaged in. It may relate to module development, academic and commercial research or other scholarly activity. It will provide a channel for sharing interests and expertise with each other and so create more opportunity for collaboration. Target groups for the publication include staff within the School, colleagues elsewhere in the University College and students.

Links with  UCP Marjon Sport, the Faculty of Sport, Media and Creative Arts and wider community

The CSDP will ensure that its key internal partners UCP Marjon Sport and FSMCA are kept abreast of projects and developments within the CSDP, ensuring that the sport development function at UCP Marjon is viewed by our external partners as transparent and coordinated.

The CSDP will promote the sport development work of itself, MS and Faculty to ensure that internal and external partners are kept informed of projects and importantly is aware how they can engage in our work. This will be done via the UCP Marjon Sports Hub Newsletter, UCP Majon website and via personal contacts.

UCP Marjon and Plymouth YMCA Training Continuum  

To develop the partnership between the CSDP and Plymouth YMCA to ensure a sport and active leisure training continuum can be promoted to learners from 16 through to the grey market.

To use the partnership to bid for tenders and work that can expand the portfolio of sport and active leisure related courses offered by the partnership e.g. apprenticeships and gain national recognition for the work of the partnership e.g. National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

To ensure learners are provided with information that illustrates the pathway the partnership can offer from sub-degree, undergraduate through to postgraduate qualifications, thus promoting widening participation in education.

To promote an industry related short courses programme for employers and employees in the peninsula.

Find out more about the UCP Marjon and Plymouth YMCA Training Continuum

 The Coaching Research Forum (CRF)

• Support the development of mentoring, coaching and coach education research at local, regional and national level.
• Have predominantly pedagogical research foci.
• Have three research foci: coach mentors, coaches (including coach education programmes), and athletes.
• Develop and enhance the reflective practice of coach mentors, coaches and athletes.
• Provide a forum for discussion, dissemination and collaboration with regards to the development of mentoring, coaching, and coach education at local and regional level.

Team Plymouth - Making a Sporting Difference

Team Plymouth Making a Sporting Difference is a joint initiative between UCP Marjon, Plymouth Sports Forum and the Plymouth Herald. The scheme aims to support the development of talented athletes and coaches by working together with key organisations that can make a sporting difference to their success. The scheme provides an excellent opportunity, through the funding provided by the scheme, to engage UCP Marjon staff and students in sports science based support at a high level to enable the talented athletes to reach their full potential.

The Complete Sporting Experience  

Ensure that all projects undertaken are used to promote ‘the complete sporting experience’ on offer at UCP Marjon. Thus supporting the recruitment and retention agenda, the student experience and the production of graduates that are ‘fit for purpose’.