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Anglia Ruskin University
in Cambridge will be adding an EJU Judo degree to their curriculum
this summer.
The course, which previously
ran at the University of Bath, offers a foundation and BSc Hons
in Sports Coaching as well as Performance Coach Awards level 4
and 5.
Anglia Ruskin's unit for
Sport and Exercise Sciences will provide the lecturers who will
cover areas such as physiology, biomechanics, psychology and coaching
pedagogy. They will be supported by judo specific lecturers Dr
Mike Callan, Emanuela Pirrentozi and Dr Andrew Moshanov.
Course leader Bob Challis,
a lecturer in Sports Coaching and Physical Education, said: “I
am currently developing the degree and we’ll have around 30 to
40 judo coaches from around the world here at Anglia Ruskin University
from 23rd August to 3rd September.”
Challis is also the head
coach of the University Judo Club and Comberton Judo Club as well
as Technical and Matside coach to the British Army Judo Team.
“The degree will require
coaches of the highest level so there can only be one institution
running the course,” said Challis.
“Bath will run a block
in the summer but after that students will move here.
“I spoke to the EJU at the end of November and they asked us what
we could offer. We met in December and quickly established what
we would provide at the University.
“They decided to move the
course to Cambridgeshire despite interest from Universities in
Hungary and Italy.”
Challis then wrote the
degree course, a 35,000 word document which has since been validated.
“We’ve already spent £20,000
on a studio that we will use as a dojo, I have compiled a list
of around 50 judo books and DVDs we need to purchase and we need
around 200 mats. Add to this booking accommodation, timetable
and writing lectures and creating a virtual learning environment
this has become quite a mammoth task.
“Awards will also be available. If a student were to undertake
a two week block in coaching pedagogy then the EJU would award
a certificate while the University would award credits.
“The course will be taught
through nine blocks of two weeks over a five year period,” added
Challis.
“Students on the level
4 and 5 courses are registered at Anglia Ruskin University and
have the same benefits as full time students including access
to the library, the digital library, the students union and student
support services.”
With the start of the course
looming the University was visited on Monday 10 th May by Professor
Attilio Sacripanti, Dr Mike Callan and EJU General Secretary Envic
Galea, as part of an external validation team.
“The external validation
was very happy with the content and structure of the course and
I have been commended for the standard of the paperwork. The internal
validation team were extremely impressed with the motivation and
passion of the proposal group and the EJU.
“The EJU will now have a role in overseeing the course. EJU representatives
will attend parts of the two week blocks and be involved in the
examination process.
“We are now confident that there will be a seamless transition
between the EJU level 3, 4 and 5. Over the next year we will ensure
this transition also leads into the level 6 Master Coach Award
which will be run at Tor Vergata University in Italy.”
In addition to the region
now offering a judo degree, Comberton Village College in South
Cambridgeshire is opening a full-time sports academy in September
2011. The College will provide training facilities for judo and
six other sports when their sixth form opens.
“They are hoping to have
a permanent dojo set up from March 2011,” said Challis.
“The concept at the moment
is that Anglia Ruskin would be able to send their students there
to train full-time too, thus creating a much needed link between
Further Education and Higher Education.”
The British Judo Association
is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of judo in
Great Britain.
Media Contact:
Mark Pickering
British Judo
(t) 01509 631674
(e) mark.pickering@britishjudo.org.uk
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