As the University welcomes its largest number of undergraduate sport students, Professor Paul Dimeo reflects on Stirling’s success.

It’s been an incredible summer of sport. Our athletes performed on the world stage at the Paris Olympics, returning with three medals. Closer to home, other students worked in local sports clubs, as coaches and backroom staff, putting their learning in to practice and enhancing their skills. Both inspired grassroots sports in their community. Both contributed to the positive and healthy outcomes sport brings to players and the area they live.

For me, as Head of Sport in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, it is the intersection of playing sport, learning about sport, and applying that learning, that harnesses the power of sport to change lives. It is what we do in the faculty as educators and researchers.

“The prospect of having Olympic medallists on campus seemed as far away as flying to the moon.”

I’ve worked here most of my professional life, having finished my PhD in the late 1990s. When I arrived, the 50m swimming pool had just been built. The prospect of having Olympic medallists on campus seemed as far away as flying to the moon. We had three courses with 12 staff and 600 students in total.

Journey to success

Fast forward to 2024, and today we have eight academic courses, 35 staff and over 1300 students. We have just accepted the largest ever intake of 450 new undergraduate students. More than 100 MSc students from all over the world are now also studying with Stirling. Two international courses operate in China and Singapore; where cohorts of students work on the same modules as students here in Stirling.

When I see busy lecture theatres and queues to speak to our staff and students at Open and Applicant Days, and have conversations with inspiring, engaged and passionate students, I do stop and wonder how we got here. Indeed, more than that, when I’m contacted by organisations in the sports industry keen to work alongside us, such as Falkirk Foundation with whom we recently signed a formal partnership, or the sportscotland Institute of Sport, I think: ‘what happened, how and why?’

Learning about sport is academically challenging

My reflections start with our amazing students: the lifeblood of the sport-education nexus. Without them, none of this would happen. They understand that learning about sport is as academically challenging as any other subject. The balance their studies with playing sport, and often spend any spare time gaining volunteer or paid work experience as coaches or something related. We offer placements with high profile organisations and a chance to undertake relevant research of their choice. There’s no better feeling than seeing students grow in knowledge and confidence. Following their journey as they gain purposeful and satisfying employment upon graduation is a success for everyone involved in their learning.

Expert staff

Next is staff: not only experts in their fields but aligned with the culture, values and strategies that lead to success. We have groups, purposefully defined but always interlinked, and related to teaching, in science, psychology, coaching, management. These groups collectively run degree programmes, research projects, consultancy and develop essential partnerships. Among many examples is our work on healthy ageing, the Daily Mile, career transitions, coach practitioner development, major events and esports.

Ingredients for success

Sport across the campus is my next ingredient of success. We are renowned as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. That is reflected in many aspects of sport performance, participation, learning and research. While many universities have a sports centre, there are few that facilitate the student academic experience alongside sports facilities to the same extent as we do. Similarly, few universities give the same priority and prominence to the many aspects of sport.

I have been struck by how valuable it is to have good partners, who share the same vision and passion. A partner can support students through guest lectures, mentoring, placements and dissertation topics. They support staff by helping us design research projects that address real-world challenges. For example, Rangers Football Club has developed opportunities for students to undertake research degrees in applied performance analysis directly working on real life situations. Hidden behind these outcomes are the more day-to-day impressions and influences we get from joining discussions with experts outside of the University. And I am always grateful for the regular praise we get for all aspects of sport.

Personal turning points

I’ve had a few personal turning points for which I feel enormously grateful for the University’s support.

I have had space and time to write three books and a long list of papers and media articles, to travel for fieldwork and conferences. I was a Fulbright Commission Scholar for a semester at University of Texas, Austin. I’ve always taught on subjects I feel comfortable and confident with and worked with students developing their dissertation skills and ideas.

Innovative staff

Most importantly though, are my colleagues who bring fresh, innovative ideas. They challenge received wisdom to make improvements, and always find the best way forward with purpose and positivity.

This strength of culture and mutual support has come with experience, change and tradition. It’s hugely boosted by those who recently joined us bringing their own new perspectives.

A prime example is Paul Greaves, who brings decades of experience as a high-performance coach in trampolining, having previously worked with Olympic gold medallist Bryony Page. Or Gillian McLellan who had been a sports scientist for Newcastle Football Club Academy and now supports research into female football players’ risk of injury. Or indeed Andrew Mark Gillott, a leading coach practitioner development expert, who is working with coaches in the Orkney Islands preparing for the Island Games.

With these, and many other fantastic colleagues, I am looking forward to building on success and growing together.