Liverpool Hope University’s School of Health Sciences has been re-named ‘The School of Health and Sport Sciences’ - to recognise the growing popularity of ‘Sport’ related programmes.
Hope runs numerous courses that revolve around sport, attracting hundreds of students each year in the process.
Those courses include popular undergraduate degrees in Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Psychology, Sport Rehabilitation and Sport & Physical Education.
There are also postgraduate programmes in Sport Medicine, Exercise and Health, Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Management and even Musculoskeletal Ultrasound - the latter of which begins in earnest next year.
And Professor Omid Khaiyat, Associate Dean of the new School of Health and Sport Sciences, says the eye-catching rebranding is an opportunity to really showcase the University’s prowess in this area of study.
He says: “We’re delighted to announce the new The School of Health and Sport Sciences title - a name that reflects the academic strength the School has consistently displayed in recent years.
“The profile of ‘Sport’ as an academic discipline has been increasingly heightened at Hope. In fact, around one in eight students in the School is now studying a Sport-based subject.
“Those students enjoy a wide-ranging and multidisciplinary curriculum, access to specialist laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities, while the school has enjoyed extremely positive placings in recent league tables.
“We want to build on that success and further enhance Hope’s Sport-related offering.”
Professor Khaiyat is quick to point out that the enhancement and growth of Health-related degrees will continue to remain a major priority for the School.
“He added: While renaming the School will bring much deserved and strategic identity to Sport-based degrees, as well as to the staff involved in research and teaching in the field, the School continuously considers strategies to support the growth of its health-related disciplines such as Nutrition, Human Biology and Applied Biomedical Health.”
Hope placed 1st in the UK for ‘student satisfaction’ in the sport science category in 2020.
As part of the strengthening of the Sport portfolio at Hope, an application for endorsement by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science) (BASES) will also be submitted, alongside a bid to host the BASES Student Conference in 2023.
Professor Khaiyat adds: “The new School of Health and Sport Sciences name is about recognising the School’s teaching and research profiles and celebrating the academics who are so committed to this field.
“It also recognises the importance of ‘Sport & Exercise’ as a discipline that has incredible benefits for physical and mental wellbeing at both an individual and a community level.
“We also hope that having the word ‘Sport’ displayed prominently in our School’s title gives students on our Sports programmes a renewed sense of identity and belonging.”
One of the most high profile Hope students on a Sports related programme is third year undergraduate Jordan Hadaway.
Jordan, who is studying Sport & Physical Education alongside Special Educational Needs, made headlines across the globe in 2020 after being named the ‘youngest senior manager in British football’ after taking charge of Welsh side Caerwys FC.
He went on to become Assistant Coach of Welsh Premier outfit Cefn Druids - the oldest club in Wales and which recently competed in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
He said in a recent interview: “I’ll finish my degree as planned as I’m as dedicated to my studies as I am to football.”
Another important selling point for the School of School of Health and Sport Sciences is the successful Shoulder Rehabilitation Conference - the 3rd of which will take place in November next year.
Meanwhile the Sport Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic (SPRC) was established at Hope in 2019 and provides expert consultations to both the general public as well as the wider Hope family.