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VICE-CHANCELLOR
Professor Richard Barnett
The University of Ulster’s vision is to be the leading university for sport in Ireland. This is a major challenge and we are confident that we have built the foundations to develop our contribution to sport at all levels - from recreation and participation through to high performance. To achieve this the University of Ulster Sports Academy has been created.
Sport and physical activity provide opportunities for the University’s students and staff and the wider community to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and, if they wish, to become involved in the passion and commitment of competitive sport. The benefits of sport in developing skills such as leadership, teamwork and discipline are well documented. By providing these opportunities we believe that all of those who interact with the University of Ulster Sports Academy will enhance their personal skills profile.
This vision marks a new era for sport at the University and we look forward to the continued support from and engagement with all our athletes, coaches, administrators and very importantly Sport Northern Ireland, governing bodies and our own Sports Union with whom we enjoy very productive relationships.
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PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR Professor Jim Allen 
Sport is a key strategic priority for this University. The development of the Ulster Sports Academy allows us to build on the tradition of sport established on the University’s campuses over more than 20 years. We have made a unique contribution to sport throughout our campuses by the performance of our athletes and teams, and in providing facilities and services for other organisations. Going forward, our plan is to build on our support services and facilities thereby allowing greater interaction with sport at all levels across the province and in our work with the governing bodies throughout the island. Our vision is based on shared ownership of sport throughout the University encompassing student sport, services and facilities, administrative departments, teaching and research of sport and related subjects. The success of the Ulster Sports Academy depends on this synergistic view of sport and the commitment of all staff. We are confident that with this partnership we can place sport at the heart of the University of Ulster. This Vision means that we will cater for all participants ranging from recreational and casual users of our facilities, through those who participate in student sport and upwards to the elite high performance level where we are equipping athletes with the skills to be competitive at the highest possible level. Alongside this pathway there are opportunities for administration, coaching, lifestyle support and all the other professional services that contribute to being a leading university for sport. |
An independent review of sport found that the University could only reach its full potential - and build on its proud tradition of sporting achievement - by a strategic realignment of sport. The Ulster Sports Academy has been created as a direct result of this exercise. This unique cross-departmental structure for sport follows widespread consultation and engagement with internal and external stakeholders and was formally approved by Council and Senate in 2006.
Partnership with Sport Northern Ireland in establishing the Sports Institute Northern Ireland at the University was the catalyst for developing sport and we believe this investment will help enhance local sport at all levels in the build up to London 2012 and follow on from the successes of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. We will work closely with SINI in its mission to develop Better Athletes, Better Coaches and Better Services.
During the evolution of this new approach to sport, significant progress has been made across all of the areas of sport at the University of Ulster including the establishment of a Sports Development Team, a five-fold increase in membership of the University Sports Union, the formation of a School of Sport Studies and the establishment of the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute (SESRI). Facility usage continues to grow on each campus and the new £12m new indoor sport and recreation complex at Jordanstown formally opens in November 2008.
This vision is underpinned by a detailed strategy for sport developed by the Executive Sports Strategy Group which comprised representatives from all internal stakeholders. The strategy is a blueprint for the direction of the Ulster Sports Academy and its development of sport at the University to 2014.
To achieve the vision the strategy embraces 3 key themes:
1. INCREASING PARTICIPATION - BE ACTIVE
We will enhance and broaden the scope of our active lifestyle, recreation, sports development and sports outreach programmes to encourage members of the University and its wider community to participate in sport and physical activity.
2. DEVELOPING SPORT IN Higher Education - BE INVOLVED
We will establish a comprehensive range of coaching initiatives, support structures and performance-related services to enable clubs, governing bodies and talented individuals to achieve their potential in a wide range of sports on each campus.
3. ENHANCING THE STUDY OF SPORT - BE OUTSTANDING
We will provide high quality academic courses at all levels to develop the knowledge and skills of graduates for employment in sports related fields, contribute to the generation of knowledge through our research and use our expertise for the benefi t of the local, regional and national community through our outreach activities.
The three goals will be supported by strategic initiatives, with supporting corporate priorities. The role of overseeing these strategic developments will rest with the Board of the Ulster Sports Academy.
Chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Information and Student Services) and reporting to the Senior Management Group (SMG) through to Council and Senate, the University of Ulster Sports Academy will form a unique structure to deliver our new vision for sport. A graphical representation of the Ulster Sports Academy can be seen below:
Four supporting priorities have been developed to enable us to achieve our goals;
1. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT
We will undertake a strategic options review for the future development of sports facilities and services across each of our four campuses, and for all activities of the Sports Academy to ensure that facility provision meets the needs of sport at the University of Ulster and contribute to the achievement of the vision.
Key Initiatives:
2. MARKETING AND PROMOTION
We will build on the key successes of the last few years to develop the profile of sport at the University of Ulster by enhancing the internal and external understanding and perception of all aspects of the Sports Academy.
Key Initiatives:
3. STRUCTURES, PERSONNEL and PARTNERSHIP
We will focus attention on the development of our greatest resource - people - and encourage the development of new and innovative structures which will maximise the effectiveness of the Sports Academy.
Key Initiatives:
4. FINANCIAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
We will ensure that the Sports Academy attracts maximum resources and uses these to best effect through consolidated financial planning and management.
Key Initiatives:
We have established an 8-year vision for sport with key objectives governing the work of the Academy during these periods;
As a result of this new vision, sport now plays a significant role in life at the University of Ulster. It is significant to student recruitment, raising educational aspirations and attainment, skills and employability and the health and well-being of the University and its wider community. As part of our annual monitoring, we have established a comprehensive framework to measure the outcomes of our investment in sport, and inform future resource allocation.
Following the launch of the Ulster Sports Academy, the Board produced detailed two-year action plans for each of its goals and supporting initiatives. These plans were led by multidisciplinary teams that engage colleagues from across the Academy, and University, to ensure that plans dovetail together to achieve our vision.
We have implemented a series of strategic initiatives and supporting priorities aligned around clear gols and outcomes to deliver our vision and to become the leading university for sport in Ireland. This can be seen below.
