DUT’s Sports Studies Department has embarked on an exciting, new 12 month sports programme in partnership with the Sharks Rugby Academy for this year (2016).
The Sharks Academy is a world-class rugby academy which is accredited by SA Rugby and backed by a strategic partnership with the Sharks. The Sharks Academy is one of the best world class rugby academies which has produced top players such as JP Peterson, John Smith and Lwazi Mvovo, to name but a few.
The aim of the partnership between DUT and the Sharks Academy is to deliver competence based short courses leading to a structured Higher Certificate in Sport Management Science to Sharks Academy students. The courses will be delivered at the Sharks Academy with DUT now being given permission to utilise the Sharks Academy logo and the Sharks Academy students as brand ambassadors.
According to DUT’s Sports Studies lecturer, Colleen Lynn Lotz, lectures commenced from Monday, 8 February 2016, and Size Vardhan, a South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) representative, will be facilitating the first module titled: Principles of Coaching. Students will graduate from the DUT Faculty of Applied Sciences’ Sport Studies Department.
“The collaboration and development of strategic partnerships between universities and industry stakeholders is necessary to intensify the growth of knowledge and become a catalyst for innovation and change,” said Lotz, adding that the partnership also came into being after her Department and the University’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ahmed Bawa, approached Etienne Fynn, Sharks Academy CEO, in order to explore possible collaboration opportunities for the Department of Sport Studies and the Sharks Academy as DUT is continuously striving to improve on its sports offering to students and the Sharks Academy therefore seemed to be an appropriate fit.
“The Department of Sports Studies aims to promote student-centered learning that supports athletic development both physically and mentally. Our mission is to empower students to build sustainable futures in sport. In addition, our programme develops young people through elite professional education and coaching, whilst embedding our ethos of a healthy lifestyle and professionalism. Students will be provided with the opportunity to articulate into a higher qualification with the Department of Sport Studies and participating in external programmes will provide students with opportunities to network with key sport industry stakeholders as well as gain new skills and knowledge,” she said.
– Waheeda Peters
