Session 3: Understanding partnerships in Sport and Exercise Sciences

Abstract

Background and content of the session
Partnerships might be defined as institutional arrangements with an external organisation or intra-institutional group and can underpin teaching, research and consultancy activity. The purpose of this session is to describe data from the inaugural School of Sport and Exercise Sciences’ Partnership Survey and explore its relevance to school and institutional strategies.

What did we do?
School staff reported details of their partnerships that contribute to school-based activity using an online survey. Details on the sector, location, domain and nature of the partnership were recorded.

Key findings
Seventy staff identified 255 partners across the private (45.1%), public (42.0%) and charity/voluntary sectors (12.9%). Partnerships are classified as local (i.e., in the Liverpool City Region (LCR); 37.6%), national (i.e., outside LCR; 48.6%) and international (13.7%). Sports performance (n = 178) and education (n = 99) are the most typical, whereas clinical (n = 38), health (n = 40) and exercise (n = 41) the least represented domains. Most partnerships are focused on a single purpose (67%), with undergraduate placements (n = 128), postgraduate placements (n = 68) and funded staff research (n = 45) the most typically reported arrangement. Consultancy (n = 17), funded postgraduate research (n = 26) and undergraduate/taught postgraduate research (n = 29) were the lowest reported purpose of the partnership.

How will the information be used?
This work identifies the school’s collaborative activity and contribution to the local, national and international community. The presentation will explore how these data inform our story for external engagement and support the school’s direction on core agendas that contribute to the strategic aims of the university. This includes the promotion of the school’s reputation to enhance our approaches to; student recruitment; student experience; research impact and to diversify and celebrate our existing relationships with placement providers.

Understanding partnerships in Sport and Exercise Sciences PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.