On Monday, first-year Community Trust Study Programme learners from Bradford City Football Club visited Huddersfield University for a taster day.
The three-hour event included a range of activities, both practical and classroom based.
The day began with a small meet and greet, before the students were taken into a lecture theatre for an introduction to the courses on offer. The talk was hosted by Michael Fish and Louisa Horner, both of Huddersfield University.
Following on from the introductory session, the students were then taken on an in-depth tour of the campus itself. This gave them a chance to see the facilities on offer and get a real feel for the university.
After the campus tour, the students were then given some time to have a break and enjoy some lunch, before heading up to one of the Sport Science labs. Michael Fish led the session and gave the learners a brief introduction into what certain pieces of equipment does and how they’re utilised. It was then time for some practical work. One student volunteered to take part in an Isokinetic Dynamometers test. These machines are able to test the strength and power of different muscle groups. In this case, the Bradford City learner was undertaking a test to measure the strength of their hamstrings and quads.
For the final session of the day, the students were taken back to the lecture theatre to take part in a micro session. This session was based on the application of sport science and research in football and was delivered by Louisa Horner, a specialist in this area.
LFE’s CTSP Regional Officer for Bradford City, Elizabeth Skeavington said: “I thought the visit to Huddersfield University gave the learners a great insight into what a typical day at university might look like. The opportunity to go into the Sports Science lab and see how some of the equipment is used was a great experience. The micro lecture topic was an engaging topic that they could all relate to and gave them a chance to see how a real lecture would be.
“The information around entry requirements and the make-up of the course that are offered at Huddersfield gave the learners a chance to see what grades they need to aim for if they are considering university as an option for their future. The learners asked some excellent questions of the staff and hopefully had a positive experience of university life.”
David Stansfield, Bradford City’s Head of Education added: “‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today’ said a wiser man than me. Investing in the future of our learners is a huge part of the legacy Bradford City Community Foundation and LFE hope everyone who progresses through our programme is left with. Having an opportunity to visit the fantastic and surprisingly extensive facilities of the University of Huddersfield provides all learners the chance to feel what a university looks and feels like and opens another potential pathway for our young people to explore. Massive thanks to LFE and University of Huddersfield for bringing this together.“