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University serves tennis degree

The degree course will teach the science of tennis

A degree course in tennis is being launched by the University of Central Lancashire. With the Wimbledon championship failing to serve up any British successes, the new degree course is aimed at raising the nation's game at tennis. The university claims that the sports technology degree in tennis is the first of its kind in this country. It will tackle the physical, psychological and nutritional demands of the game. Students taking the BSc course will be prepared for entering the "tennis industry" - and it hopes to increase the number of top-ranked coaches in this country. 'Motion analysis' At present, the Preston-based university says, there are not enough British coaches among the staff supporting the world's best players. The degree course will address the "knowledge gap" for tennis players and coaches surrounding the "scientific and technological" aspects of tennis, says the university. This will involve techniques such as three-dimentional "motion analysis" of tennis movements, using images from 10 cameras. "There are a number of career opportunities which students can go on to pursue on completion of the course because of its science base," says Dr David Fewtrell, senior lecturer in sports technology.

"Some of these paths may be equipment design and manufacturing sector, research and development of sports products and technical sales and product support."

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Teachers attack 'hobby degrees'

There is a three-year degree courses in surf science

Hobbies such as surfing are being turned into "Mickey Mouse" degree courses, a teachers' union conference is to be told. The Professional Association of Teachers' annual conference is to debate the growth in higher education. There will be claims that the government's drive for 50% of young people to go to university is lowering the quality of degrees. Teachers will say that subjects such as surfing should not be degree courses. Information technology teacher, Peter Morris, a delegate at the conference in Bournemouth, said that "surfing is a hobby, not a subject." 'Devalued' "Surfers need a qualification in safety but I question whether that needs to be a degree. If it is to be a degree, surely it has to be in something that adds to the country's heritage and our nation, like classics," said Mr Morris. "Clearly there needs to be academic rigour. You have to have a degree that's worth having. If it is not worth having, then the whole of academia is devalued. "And I do believe that these degrees are devaluing academia full stop." There are several institutions offering surf-related courses - including a three-year surf science and technology degree at the University of Plymouth and a three-year course in surf and beach management at Swansea Institute of Higher Education. The first graduates of the Plymouth course received their degrees two years ago.

The university sector has rejected previous criticisms of such specialised vocational courses, arguing that areas such as tourism and leisure are major employers and significant aspects of the national economy.

Universities say that such new courses reflect the demands for skills from the leisure and service sectors, which are now often bigger employers than "traditional" industries.

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[NOTD] News Of The Day - 03/07/2007

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