Agenda and Papers - University of Edinburgh

Senate Quality Assurance Committee
Student Service Report 2010-11
Centre for Sport and Exercise
Section 1 – Introduction
1. This is a tailored summary report on the activities of the University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise
(cSE) during 2010-11. Its purpose is to provide Senatus Quality Assurance Committee with:
a. Some context on the cSE and its work;
b. An overview of the management of the student experience within the sport and exercise
service;
c. Related perspectives on the management of quality and standards;
d. An insight into the management of enhancement and good practice.
Section 2 – Some context
2. Sport makes a unique contribution to Scottish society, and to University life. It has the capacity to
lift spirits, improve health and well-being, promote social inclusion, teach lessons of endeavour,
discipline and loyalty, develop transferable skills, build self-confidence, and to challenge and
entertain.
3. It is pleasing to report that Edinburgh is now regarded as one of the UK’s leading sporting
Universities. This is real credit to cSE’s progressive approach in developing top class facilities,
innovative activity programmes and outstanding support services, which are now enjoyed by ‘000s
of people every week. This is a genuine success story, which has significantly improved the health
and well-being of the University community, enlivened the student experience, and helped promote
the University’s reputation, both near and far.
4. The cSE employs over 100 full and part-time staff across its four main facilities at the Pleasance
Sports Complex (for fitness and indoor sport), Peffermill Playing Fields (outdoor games); Firbush
point (outdoor pursuits) and St Leonards land (pool and acitivity spaces), and has an annual
expenditure of c £3.6 million. The cSE balances its costs through income generation from
membership fees, facility hires, courses, secondary sales (c 82%) and University grant aid support
(c 18%). This subvention level is one of the lowest in any higher education sports service in the UK.
Section 3 ~ management of the student experience
Range of service’s facilities
5. Our fitness and indoor sports facilities, based at the Pleasance Sports Complex, have just enjoyed
a £4.8 million extension plan to create one of the biggest and best equipped gyms in the UK. The
New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team have commented that they are among the best they have
experienced, and our facilities are regularly awarded the top rating in the Sunday Times University
Guide and are consistently voted ‘best gym in town’ (Scotland the best, 2002-10).
2 JCA/Report to SQAC~2010-11