DkIT Formalises Relationship with Sport Ireland Via MOU
14 February 2019Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the national sports development fund, Sport Ireland Coaching to facilitate closer cooperation in the continued development of its BA and BA (Hons) in Sports, Exercise & Enterprise programmes.
The MOU aims to cement the already long-lasting relationship between DkIT and Sport Ireland Coaching by enhancing communications exchange and ensuring greater collaboration across academic planning and programme development. Under this new relationship, students on the BA and BA (Hons) in Sport, Exercise & Enterprise will continue to have an opportunity to receive accreditation from Sport Ireland for relevant modules completed as part of the course. Both these programmes are located in the School of Business and Humanities.
For example in Year 1, students receive Coaching Children accreditation in addition to academic credits for successfully completing the Developing Physical Literacy module. In Year 2, students also have the opportunity to gain accreditation by completing the iCoachKids MOOC which is covered as part of the Physical Activity in Adolescence module. The iCoach Kids programme is an EU-funded programme which aims to support the development of a Specialist Children and Youth Coaching Workforce across the EU to make sure all youth sport participants have a positive experience led by suitably trained coaches leading to a lifelong involvement in sport and healthier lives.
Speaking at the MOU signing, Dr Patricia Moriarty, Head of School of Business & Humanities said,
“We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Sport Ireland and to seek out new opportunities to collaborate into the future. We have a longstanding relationship with Sport Ireland which has informed and influenced academic content within our highly successful Sports programmes. As we approach Programmatic Review, we are working with Sport Ireland to ensure that our modules are future-proofed and are fully aligned with industry standards. This helps enhance the employability of our graduates by ensuring that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge that are demand by employers today.”
Also speaking at the event, Michael McGeehin, Director of Sport Ireland Coaching said,
“It is very exciting to enter a new phase of cooperation with DkIT. It has taken almost 2 years for this project to get to this particular point and the Institute should be commended for taking the necessary steps provided to get us here. By embracing the EU-funded iCoach Kids programme, DkIT is now delivering European best practice in education for children’s coaches. DkIT sports graduates will progress to become standard bearers of this course and will bring this new knowledge, quality and experience to professional coaching in Ireland today.”
David Cranny, Lecturer on the BA and BA (Hons) in Sports, Exercise & Enterprise at DkIT added,
“The partnership with Sport Ireland is an example of the extensive links we have with industry. Last year the Institute signed a new partnership with leading sports monitoring technology firm, STATSports and we also have strong relationships with the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships. Engagement with industry ensures that our students are career-ready and that our courses remain up-to-date with the latest industry trends.”
DkIT is one the only Higher Education Institutes in Ireland to provide a Sports Bachelors which incorporates professional qualifications in Gym Instruction, Personal Training, Circuit Training & GP Exercise Referral. To find out more about Sports programmes at DkIT, please visit https://www.dkit.ie/cao-hub/health,-sport-and-physical-activity.html
School of Business and Humanities
BA (Hons) in Sport, Exercise & Enterprise
BA in Sports, Exercise & Enterprise
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