11 October 2013 Students present research to sport industry players

On Wednesday 9 October five Lincoln University undergraduate students presented their research to industry players at the 2nd Annual Sport and Recreation Forum and New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) Canterbury/Northern South Island Region AGM.

Held on the Lincoln University campus, the annual event is a chance for all sport and recreation stakeholders and NZRA members to network, discuss any challenges and opportunities that have arisen throughout the year, and make plans for the coming year. 

Attending the forum were representatives from such organisations as Sport Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, CERA, Canterbury Basketball and CPIT.

The students presenting and their topics were:

• Karina Brennan-Evans: The Utilisation of Marine Protected Areas in the promotion of Akaroa as a tourism destination.
• Rachel Murphy: Club and School Sporting Structures: Integration or Separation?
• Ella Vink: High Performance Sport within Greater Christchurch: Past, present, future and its place within the national frame work.
• Jenn Halliday: Sports Administration Hubs: Creating a Model for Future Locations of Sport Canterbury.
• Janine Gainsford: Swimming in Christchurch: How the industry was affected by the earthquakes.

Four of the students presented as part of the RECN 398 Research Essay course, which is an invitation only paper. The students are picked on the back of their Grade Point Average and are required to conduct a research project involving practical engagement with the sport and recreation industry in Canterbury. Janine Gainsford, however, who has since graduated, presented as part of previous scholarship research.

Of the participants, most are Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management degree students, with the exception of Karina Brennan-Evans, who is taking a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology.

According to Lincoln University Lecturer in Recreation, Sport and Leisure, Dr Roslyn Kerr (who supervises the students’ research) the course itself and the requirement for presenting one’s research findings is an invaluable experience.

“The course gives students a good understanding of what research is all about. This is good in itself, but it also helps them get a clearer idea of their preferred career path; such as research, consultancy or management,” says Dr Kerr.

Robust discussion followed after the presentations as to how Lincoln University can further work with the sport and recreation industry, with the research presentations themselves attracting positive interest from relevant industry representatives looking to further collaborate with the students in question.