Student Conference – contemporary issues in sport

World-leading academics gathered today to lead a conference designed specifically for School of Sport and Service Management students. Assistant head of school Sid Hayes opened the event and welcomed the speakers to the university. He noted that the aim of the conference was to provide students with a different learning opportunity and to explore a range of interconnected and contemporary issues within sport, including; gender, globalisation, media and Europe.

Guest speakers travelled from across Europe to deliver entertaining and thought provoking presentations detailing recent research on the aforementioned issues and openly discussed their findings with students in the audience:

Dr Anastasiya Khomutova, a recent addition to the University of Brighton staff, discussed her findings from research into the issues facing coaching in a multicultural environment.

Dr Honorata Jakubowska from Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland, documented current UFC Women’s straw weight champion, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and how her achievements overcame gender stereotypes by analysing the media’s response.

Dr Nicolas Delorme from the University of Bordeaux, France, presented a critical analysis of gender reporting and the representation of female and male sports within the media.

Many of the students were able to field questions related to their own studies; Sports Studies BA(Hons) student Oscar Hall said of the event: “It was really interesting to see the research of these issues from academics from around the world, I will soon be writing my dissertation and this information will certainly be valuable”.

Dr Christopher R. Matthews, senior lecturer, course leader and event organiser spoke of how important this opportunity was for the students: “Events like this help students understand how it is to be in a conference environment and how to learn from people who aren’t here to teach or lecture, but rather to share knowledge.

“The Student Conference shows students how to pull key information from research, in this instance from world leading academics.”

The event certainly allowed this, with students engaging in the conference through probing and insightful questioning allowing a productive discussion that enhanced the understanding of everyone who attended. The success of the event means that staff have already begun discussions about how they can grow the conference for next year.