Work-Integrated Learning student success celebrated

The celebratory lunch, held at Massey's Sport and Rugby Institute, was attended by Sport and Exercise staff, practicum students, Exercise Clinic clients and industry partners/supervisors, many of whom are Massey graduates. Over the past 30 years, practicum students have made a significant contribution to related Sport and Exercise organisations in the Manawatū, nationally, and internationally.

Practicum Co-ordinator Professor Andy Martin, from the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition says, "Some 80 practicum students this year have added value to a range of projects in a variety of contexts, such as in sport organisations, schools, and gyms. Forty-eight of the current practicum students are based in the Manawatū region."

Over the past three years, 120 organisations have been involved in partnering with the Sport and Exercise practicum. In the Manawatū, 20 schools, 15 gyms, and a variety of Regional Sport Organisations (RSOs) such as football, rugby, hockey, cricket, netball, basketball, volleyball, Parafed, and Special Olympics have all benefited from having a Sport and Exercise student. Nationally, students have been based at New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Football, Cycling New Zealand, and Golf New Zealand, and a range of RSOs. Students have also been placed internationally in England, France, Germany, North and South America, China, and Australia.

Massey alumni Brendan Bourke completed a similar WIL practicum 20 years ago, and now has extensive international event management experience. He is currently Head of Operations, New Zealand, for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

More recent graduates include current practicum supervisors:

Sport:

• Keegan Bremner (Sport Manawatū; Community Partnerships Advisor)
• Campbell MacNeill (Secondary Schools Development Manager, Manawatū Rugby)
• Rebecca Boyd (Community Relationship Officer, Netball Manawatū)
• Mikaela Greig (PE teacher and Sports Coordinator, Awatapu College)

Exercise:

• Sarah Munn (Active Communities Advisor, Sport Manawatū)
• Liam Bassick (Trainer, Zenith Fitness)
• Anton Jacques (Strength and Conditioning Coach, Old Boys University Rugby Club, Wellington)

Over the past three years, students undertaking a Physical Education major in the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise have also had the opportunity to complete a practicum in schools.

Research recently published in the International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning by practicum staff Professor Andy Martin, Associate Professor Dennis Slade and Senior Lecturer Dr Lynette Hodges, has highlighted that this pre pre-service teacher training WIL opportunity enables students to build self-efficacy, transferable skills and attributes, and career capability.

The long-term teaching and research of Associate Professor Slade in the fields of Physical Education and Coaching, and his significant impact on hundreds of graduate Physical Education teachers, was acknowledged at the lunch, as he will retire at the end of Semester 2, 2022.

Massey’s Bachelor of Sport and Exercise, offered internally on the Manawatū Campus and by distance, prepares students for work in the varied and growing areas of Sport and Exercise. The practicum provides important industry partnerships, enabling students and staff to connect, collaborate and contribute to their community of practice. One example of this is through the Exercise Clinic held in the Human Performance Laboratory, managed by Dr Hodges.

The extensive sport and recreation facilities on the Manawatū Campus provide an attractive point of difference through student and staff participation and community engagement initiatives. The Massey Academy of Sport also provides attractive opportunities for high-performance student athletes.