News | Monday, 27th April 2020
Pioneering Manchester Met scheme to support talented student-athletes backed by Sport England
University's Sport Scholar programme is first in the North West to receive Dual Career Accreditation
Manchester Metropolitan University has been awarded the Dual Career Accreditation by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) – a Sport England-backed initiative to support talented athletes in education.
The ground-breaking programme formally recognises the University’s commitment to support young sportspeople on the talent pathway. It aims to allow them to reach their potential in education alongside achieving success in their sport, follow other interests, as well as further their personal development.
Manchester Metropolitan is the first University in the North West to be accredited by the scheme.
Continuing our sport support
Jérôme Read, Performance Sport Manager at MMU Sport, said: “This is the next step in our progress to support talented dual career students in the best way possible whilst being centred on their demanding commitments.
“The Dual Career Accreditation sign off allows MMU Sport to not only continue our strong athlete support but it also gives the academic departments guidance in extending flexibility when and where appropriate to support a dual career student’s sporting interests.
“It is noteworthy that the outcome of dedicating much of our time to developing the relationship with TASS has borne such significant fruit in becoming the first university in the North West of England to achieve this accreditation in line with the University’s wider sporting ambition.”
The accreditation endorses the University’s existing Sport Scholarship Scheme, which offers athletes a bespoke support package, which includes nutrition, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, as well as financial support and contributions towards tuition fees.
The scholarship attracts hundreds of applications from athletes around the world each year and it is hoped that the new accreditation will attract a greater number of talented athletes and will build connections with other local sporting institutions.
Academic flexibility
Manchester Metropolitan will be an important extension of the network of universities that already partner with TASS to deliver core support services to more than 600 student-athletes each year.
The University will receive training and a toolkit of resources to equip them with practical dual career support and bring together all parties who work with the athlete to offer academic flexibility.
The academic flexibility policies mean student athletes have the opportunity to access online notes or resources and are able to arrange catch up sessions with teaching staff, or even reschedule deadlines or exam dates in exceptional circumstances.
Vitally important
The programme was referenced in Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Duty of Care in Sport Review published in April 2017. The report said the Accreditation shows that a college or university has the ability to support students following a dual career route.
Backing the scheme, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “I believe we have a duty to help young people to achieve their potential, whilst prioritising their welfare, wellbeing and education. For the vast majority of athletes, skills and formal qualifications are needed to help them find alternative careers, either alongside their sporting activities or once their sporting days are over.
“For me the TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme is a vitally important measure to ensuring all athletes have the chance to pursue an education and enjoy a more well-rounded approach to life.”
Effective structure
TASS National Director, Guy Taylor, said: “We’re delighted to be awarding TASS Dual Career Accreditation to colleges and universities across England.
“Dual career support is at the forefront of what TASS does and that’s why the Accreditation Scheme is so important for us in recognising those institutions who place precedence on their athletes’ education too.
“We hope that the academic flexibility policies put into place for the Accreditation will begin to develop an effective and lasting dual career structure within each institution.
“Congratulations to the successful institutions and we look forward to working alongside many more outstanding colleges and universities in the near future.”
You can find out more about the University’s Sport Scholarship Scheme here.