University of Central Lancashire’s School of Medicine and the English Institute of Sport have signed an agreement to work together.

This will be to accredit Continuing Professional Development activity conducted within physiotherapy.

As part of the agreement, EIS physiotherapists will be able to gain academic credits for technical and non-technical CPD and learning activities, including the EIS’s unique Elite Sport Physiotherapy Accreditation programme.

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The ESPA is the very first qualification of its type in the UK, recognising the specific training and development needs of physiotherapists working in Olympic and Paralympic sport.

The programme was developed in-house by the EIS in 2017 and comprises six individual modules, including the upper limb, lower limb, lumbar spine and the Paralympic athlete.

UCLan will now provide opportunities for academic accreditation following completion of ESPA modules as well as other CPD and learning activities, all of which are offered as part of a comprehensive programme of practitioner development support.

UCLan is a leading UK university with a well-regarded School of Medicine. The School collaborates closely with service providers and patients, offering a range of postgraduate qualifications and professional courses, responding to the needs of medical and healthcare professionals, their portfolio careers and the future medical economy.

Head of Physiotherapy at the EIS, Simon Spencer, said: “A vital part of the EIS’s success is its people and their commitment to continual improvement and being the best they can be.

“Our relationship with UCLan now means that their CPD can be more formally recognised. It also provides recognition for those who are going through our unique ESPA programme, specific to those working in elite Olympic and Paralympic sport.

“We place huge value on personal development, and it’s important that we are able to formally recognise the vast breadth of learning opportunities provided across the Institute. We’re delighted that UCLan has agreed to work with us to deliver this.”

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UCLan’s Principal Lecturer and Academic Lead for Performance and Rehabilitation Medicine, Karen May, said: “The University is delighted to form this new and exciting two-way relationship with the English Institute for Sport. It means we can now provide an accredited training pathway for EIS physiotherapy staff that is aligned to the University’s Masters in Sports Medicine and associated postgraduate and professional doctorate programmes. 

“EIS is the largest single provider of world-class science, medicine, technology and engineering services within the sport sector to Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK so we also see the relationship having key benefits for our own students.”

What a fantastic collaboration this will be and the opportunities for the students. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.