P OLICY
Bouncing back in higher education A report compiled in partnership by British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and fitness equipment specialist Technogym has offered insight into the state of higher education sport and physical activity in a post-pandemic world
B
ritish Universities & Colleges
also had an obvious impact on student
Sport (BUCS) invited a panel of
routines and mental wellbeing, with first- and
higher education representatives
second-year students spending much of
to discuss the status of sport
their academic life, so far, unable to access
and physical activity in the
formal or informal sports opportunities.
sector. The resulting whitepaper – published
“As higher education institutions welcome
in partnership with equipment supplier
students back on site, we can’t forget
Technogym – has been designed to open
that these young people have had an
up discussion and play a part in guiding the
unprecedented two years,” the report states.
sector to a strong recovery so that it can
“At the start of the current academic year
continue to serve the needs of students,
(2021-22), most second year students hadn’t
staff and the wider communities.
spent any time in person with their peers or staff, and first years may not even have
PANDEMIC IMPACT The paper shows that the impact of lockdowns have had far-reaching effects
spent time at college for their A-levels. Higher education institutions should put measures in
BUCS provides
place to deal with the impact on their social
institutions
skills, emotional health and confidence.”
on higher education staff and students.
competitive
Entire sports facilities have sat unused,
sport and other
Staff, too, have been severely impacted by
physical activity
COVID-19, with a stark divide noted between
opportunities
those furloughed and those working through
many of them representing significant new investments for the university. The pandemic
lockdown. The challenges continue, with many preferring to continue hybrid working.
HEALTHY DEMAND The BUCS report found that the appetite for recreational and competitive sport, however, is “clearly there”, even among students who have spent much of the last two years isolated from activity and social interaction. Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to have an impact on the running of higher education sport and physical activity.
sportsnation.org.uk MAR/APR 2022
© Alex Burstow
28
