University of Bolton named as Higher Education Partner in new CIMSPA Pilot

The University of Bolton is named as one of ten higher education partners supporting the CIMSPA Higher Education Partnership Pilot Scheme. The two-year pilot, run by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) officially launched on 25 January. The scheme aims to ensure all UK sport and physical activity degree programmes are properly endorsed and recognised. Those certified will meet an extensive list of employer-set professional standards including an employability benchmark and clarity around the job roles for which a student will be qualified. The scheme also plans to improve both work placement and internship opportunities for students, as well as develop a national graduate training programme for the sector. As one of the pilot’s partners, the University of Bolton will support the development of the new CIMSPA membership categories and actively encourage students to undertake a course to gain chartered membership. In line with the university’s promise to be a Teaching Intensive, Research Informed (TIRI) institution, University of Bolton students studying courses under the pilot scheme will receive a range of association benefits, including access to free online learning via the CIMSPA Academy. Anna Fitzpatrick, Head of Sport and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bolton, commented: “The pilot scheme encompasses everything we stand for as an educational institution, including links with professional workplaces throughout study and the development of transferrable skills. Having our programmes certified will ensure the qualifications of our students are instantly recognisable to both relevant employers and the wider industry, assuring our graduates of an easy transition from study to the working world.”