Fitness & Personal Training Degree Receives Industry Recognition

An article in Leisure Training this week has highlighted the BSc Fitness and Personal Training as an example of good practice in terms of incorporating appropriate vocational skills and qualifications to enhance students' employability prospects.

Course Leader, Martin Skivington, commented 'this is further evidence that the fitness degree courses at Solent are meeting the needs of industry in terms of the skills and competencies that employers are looking for. We are always striving for new ways to enhance the employment prospects of our students, and a number of new initiatives have been introduced this year, with another potential partnership with a major industry training provider on the cards for 2012. These are exciting times for the university and in particular the students enrolled on these courses.'

Please click on the link above to read the full article.

Circuit Training Workshops for Health & Fitness Students

Health and Fitness students on the first year of the BSc Fitness & Personal Training, BA Fitness Management & Personal Training, BSc Health, Exercise & Physical Activity and BSc Applied Sport Science courses were invited to attend a series of 4-hour workshops to provide them with the skills and competencies to plan and deliver basic circuit training classes. The workshops covered the benefits of circuits, different approaches to circuits, group teaching skills, as well as small group practise delivering a section of a class.
Programme Manager and Principal Lecturer Martin Skivington stated, 'these workshops should help improve the confidence of students when working in a group exercise environment, not to mention the improvement in their teaching skills in a one-to-one environment'. 

GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) Talent squad returns to Solent University

The weekend of the 11th February saw the GB Talent squad return to Solent University for the next in the series of their testing. This is part of the preparations that are already underway for Rio 2016. Students from the BSc Applied Sport Science course again worked sedulously to provide the support for their tutors Dr Stewart Bruce-Low and Scott Burnet in delivering a highly successful testing session. The athletes and GBWR staff were equally impressed with the manner in which the students conducted themselves. The students had a challenging but very rewarding experience working alongside and testing some of the athletes that will be competing at the 2016 Paralympic games. Have a look at the video clips to see the students and athletes in action.

Solent Students play key role in Diving Success

Congratulations to Southampton Diving Academy's Max Brick and Stacie Powell who won the men's and women's platform events at the recent National Diving Championships held in Southend on Sea. Since September, BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science and BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching students from Southampton Solent University have been working with the elite squad from Southampton Diving Academy providing biomechanics support/ video feedback. 

Thomas Berrington, a 2nd year Applied Sport Science student commented, "having a chance to provide support to GB divers at the top of the sport is a great privilege and an invaluable experience. With the constant guidance of Dr David Jessop we provide analysis of dives through the utilisation of video analysis software. This enables feedback in slow motion, frame by frame and the ability to assess desired angles of limbs, all of which is fed back to the athlete instantaneously". 

For some photos of the event, please go to http://www.swimming.org/galleries/view_gallery/british-gas-national-cup-2012/12369 

University staff and students now look forward to supporting Southampton's divers in the build up to this year’s Olympic Games.

Health and Fitness students gain a psychological edge

A recent article in Health Club Management magazine highlights what staff at Solent University have known for a long time - that there is a need for a knowledge of exercise psychology in the fitness industry.  Professor Jimenez, chair of the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA) Standard's Council has called for more emphasis to be put on psychology in the training of exercise professionals.  Jimenez states "Physiological knowledge is important, but we need staff with psychological know-how too.  We need people who can engage with individuals and lead behaviour change".  He also states that the fitness industry must play a critical role in governments' Public Health agenda but warns that being able to understand the mental state of customers is key to this.

Solent University's Health and Fitness degree courses do exactly what Professor Jimenez is highlighting, making us a leading force in the training of first class fitness professionals.  All students on the Health and Fitness courses cover an introduction to exercise psychology in their first year where they learn about the psychological benefits and barriers to exercise including exercise as a treatment for stress and depression, the negative impacts of exercise such as exercise dependence and muscle dysmorphia, as well as common barriers and adherence issues.  In the second year, students on the BSc  Fitness and Personal Training and the BSc Health, Exercise and Physical Activity go on to study behaviour change, including how to use psychological skills such as goal setting, motivational interviewing and imagery to help clients to begin and maintain an exercise programme.  Students on the BSc Health, Exercise and Physical Activity then progress to the study of health psychology in their final year.   

Dr Marie Stopforth who leads the exercise psychology units said, "It's essential that students have a good understanding of the link between the body and the mind.  We know that 50% of people drop out of an exercise programme within 6 months, so in order to help them to adhere, we must try to understand why this is and how we can prevent it.  There are many strategies and techniques that can be used, it's just about knowing what these are and how to use them.  I believe that our students are ahead of the competition in the workplace as health and fitness professionals due to this emphasis on exercise psychology". 

Solent University's BSc Health, Exercise and Physical Activity also reflects Professor Jimenez's comments.  The aim of the degree is to bridge the gap between the fitness profession and public health.  Students not only gain Register of Exercise Professionals endorsed fitness qualifications, but also learn about physical activity and public health.  This includes guest lectures from those working in the industry, as well as work experience working within a physical activity intervention in the Southampton area.

Solent shortlisted to provide staff training to Nuffield Health and Wellbeing

Solent recently submitted a bid to become the approved training provider for the national staff development programme for Nuffield Health and Wellbeing fitness staff and were shortlisted to present their proposal to 7 senior managers on Tuesday 13th December.

Martin Skivington, Principal Lecturer in Health, Exercise and Sport Science, who led the bid, commented "to be shortlisted against some of the largest training providers, not only from the UK, but also worldwide, represents a tremendous achievement by the entire team who helped develop the bid. It shows that the fitness qualifications offered by Solent are incredibly well respected in the sector, and our brand name within the fitness industry continues to grow."

Nuffield have ambitions to raise the standard of fitness provision within the UK, and the potential partnership with Solent would provide them with evidence-based staff training pitched at a higher level than current industry standards.  In particular, they provide a holistic approach to fitness and wellbeing,with a full health MOT offered to their members.

Three members of Solent staff presented the proposal to Nuffield at their City club in London and we should hear early in the New Year whether we have been successful.

Watch this space!

Applied Sport Science students heavily involved in GB Wheelchair Paralympics preparation.

This week students from all 3 years of the BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science course helped Dr Stewart Bruce-Low undertake a battery of fitness tests to monitor baseline values of the GB Wheelchair Rugby Elite Squad. This meant an early start for all students in order to be at Stoke Mandeville to start setting up the tests at 7.30am. The successful testing day was followed by a high intensity workout for the players led by Dr Bruce-Low ably aided by the students. On the long drive home it was very clear that all students had gained huge amounts from this experience and are already looking forward to the next testing day early in the new year.