University partners with China

Released: 20.05.16

The University of St Mark & St John has entered into an agreement with Shandong Sport University in China to jointly accelerate the development of the sport industry in the UK and China. With the support of Chinese government both universities will cooperate to provide expertise in training, research, business development, while also providing opportunities for staff & student exchange.

The Shandong province is established as a major sporting region of China, responsible for as many Olympic Gold Medals in 2012 as Australia. The further development of a thriving high technology and advanced sport industry sector is a major priority for the government in Shandong, a province with a population of 60 million. With 18,000 professional sports men and women, the province wishes to boost the contribution of the sports sector to its GDP. 

Professor Brendon Noble, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & International, said: "We are enormously excited to be working with our Chinese colleagues on this important international project. Both countries have much to offer and to gain in terms of specialist knowledge and experience which will support the generation of sport-related health and wealth.”

A focus of the project will involve working with the Shandong Sports Rehabilitation Hospital, to bring together Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. Other areas will involve training individuals in sport business-related matters, sport science and sport performance.

Professor Andrew Edwards Dean of the Faculty of Sport and Health Science at the University of St Mark & St John, said: "This ground breaking project will allow our sports therapy and sports medicine students and staff to exchange knowledge and experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners in China in order to create new ways of treating both elite and amateur athletes.”

In an exciting development, The Sports Bureau of Shandong Province further stated its intent to provide financial support for this international cooperation in an exceptional move that will accelerate the development of sport business and community involvement in both China and the UK.

Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office at the Bureau, said: "There is a strong mutual respect for our countries respective expertise in sports training and therapy and there is much that we can do through sharing our knowledge. We look forward to working with Marjon and the SSU as they take this work forward.”

This new venture positions the University of St Mark & St John at the forefront of this area of training, research and business development in sport and health and is one of a number of important initiatives being developed at the University.