Practitioner partnership model delivers transformative student learning experience

Chris CutforthSenior Lecturer, Sport

Session purpose

To share my 2 years' experiences of delivering a MSc module through an

innovative approach involving a partnership with an industry practitioner/

consultant

Background• MSc Leading and Managing PE &

Youth Sport, Sports Development

• Strategic Policy and Practice module

• 5/6 students per year - recent graduates, 3/5 years work experience in PE or sport development roles

• 15 credits delivered over 2 weekends (12 hours contact time)

Rationale for the approach• Aspirations for students

(leaders of the future)• Subject complexity• My limited knowledge

base• My time constraints• My professional

relationship with Steve • His interest in the HE

sector

Our approach• Module content built around the recognised 5 stage strategy

process• Critique of academic literature (self-directed task)• 'Real life' case study and 'model' outcomes framework • Role play and character acting - tutors and invited guests• Group exercises• Discussion/debates• Coaching techniques - visualisation, goal setting and motivation• Introduction to advanced communication skills• Self-directed tasks completed between sessions• Signposting to additional academic and professional resources• Assessment - critical investigation of an organisation's approach to

strategy

Key issues• Interpretation of the definitive document - needs led

approach• Going above and beyond• Relinquishing some control, taking calculated risks• Sowing seeds for the future• Aspiration to provide a leading edge, transformative

learning experience

Student feedback

• "The module was a valuable experience that I have taken back into my workplace and have already applied in my leadership role. I am confident that what I have learnt will further aid my ability to use strategy in the short, medium and long term"

• "The learning and teaching methods were innovative and engaged me to think about strategy in a different light. Practical industry knowledge and the academic underpinning enabled me to look at strategy from a number of perspectives"

• "Extremely relevant to my current role"

• "Having both an academic and a practitioner in the room really brought the content to life. It was also interesting to see that on occasions their viewpoints were different. Worked really well"

Practitioner comments• The approach enablesdthe students to be exposed

to leading sport sector strategic concepts & practices (e.g. Outcomes Frameworks) that they wouldn't be able to read about (because little has been written about them yet!)

• The approach triggered debate between the tutors & the students, which created energy, engaged the students, challenges & changed their thinking

• The approach created the opportunity for real examples & cases studies, which engaged the students and enabled them to develop clarity

• The approach allowed practical application of the concepts within the students' organisations.  This represented added value for the students & their employers as they can use the Module to generate actual improvement within their organisations.

• The approach provided the opportunity to present joined-up thinking relating to organisational excellence. This type of 'system thinking' is as the heart of future success for the sport sector. 

• The approach gave us the opportunity to develop the type of strategic thinking which will be vital in leaders of the future

The future• MSc Leading and Managing

PEYS/SD course currently under review

• CIMSPA professional development framework - new business opportunities, meeting industry needs

• Wider application of innovative teaching approaches to other modules

Thanks for listening - any questions..?

c.cutforth@shu.ac.uk, ext 5626