News
Welsh Athletics Sport Science Internship
30/09/2021 00:00, In Blog /
During the 2020-21 academic year Welsh Athletics and Cardiff Metropolitan University created two internship opportunities. Following a competitive interview process, two students from the Cardiff Metropolitan University MSc in Sport and Exercise Science were successful Skye Sauter and Joseph Killick. During the course of a disruptive year, both students engaged fully with two specific projects that Welsh Athletics were delivering. These projects were concerned with the development of female endurance athletes and the identification of endurance performance determinants, respectively.
Dr. Paul M. Smith, Programme Director of the taught MSc in Sport and Exercise Science said:
“It is critical for students like Skye and Joe to gain this valuable, vocational experience. While we are able to develop and assess theoretical knowledge and practical skills within our modules, the industry-specific experience afforded by these internships will place Skye and Joe at a considerable advantage in their attempt to secure gainful, graduate employment”.
Having helped supervise the interns, Liz Davies (National Talent Development -Endurance) and Dan Nash (Welsh Athletics Physiologist) said:
“These placements are invaluable to everyone involved and have helped support delivery of Physiology services and Sport Science projects during a difficult period for the Sport. Both Skye and Joe have brought excellent knowledge and skills to the team and have demonstrated great enthusiasm for the internship. We look forward to continuing this partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Following a final debrief and review of her experience, Skye noted:
“The Welsh Athletics Internship has provided me an amazing opportunity to add to my previous experiences and to learn new skills. It has majorly benefitted my academic and professional development by putting context to my learning and further adding to my current knowledge. Working within athletics is a route I am interested in and with Welsh Athletics, I got to see how everything works and gain the important experience needed to progress in this career”.
Further, Joe commented:
“The Internship has given me great insight into the inner workings of a National Governing Body as well as the practices of coaches and practitioners who support a range of athletes. I was able to assist with field testing for a range of athletes from development through to Commonwealth Games standards. The staff at Welsh Athletics were helpful and supportive throughout the internship”
Recruitment is currently underway for the next cohort of interns. If you are a Masters student at Cardiff Metropolitan University and you are interested in being considered for the next internship please contact Liz Davies for more details liz.davies@welshathletics.org