Creating a sports programme to drive international student success
Whether participating or watching, sport brings people from all walks of life together. We have seen — and heard — this with the Six Nations rugby tournament, which has gripped rugby fans around the world for the past few months. While commitment and dedication thrive at local level sports, national fervour and the excitement of international competitions can also make many of us feel part of an enormous community.
But it’s more than a feeling. Research shows that sport can “be a vehicle for well-being, tolerance” and “lessening the cultural divide”, as well as helping “form stronger societal bonds and boosting self-esteem for the younger generation.”
Here in the UK, the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games is still alive more than a decade later, not just through fond memories but with sports investments benefiting people, clubs and associations in towns and cities across the country.
As a Study Group Student Support Co-Ordinator at the Durham University International Study Centre (ISC) I help our students adjust to living and studying here so that they are supported to achieve their goals and ambitions. I have been keen to extrapolate the benefits of sport for the international students who leave their homes, hundreds of miles away, to pursue their studies and success in Durham. And with Durham University being named Sport University of the Year for 2023 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, tapping into the benefits of sport felt like a no brainer. That’s why I’m leading the ISC’s participation in a new sports programme, delivered in partnership with Durham University.
Durham University International Study Centre sports programme
The new initiative is a weekly timetable of a different sports played at various ability levels. Our international students, who are preparing to study their degrees at the university, now have the opportunity to enjoy the university’s expert sports facilities – playing with and competing against Durham University students and in wider university leagues.
The programme consists of three tiers:
- Social sport: each week students can take part, no matter their skill level.
- Collegiate sport: students represent the ISC in a more competitive situation playing against Durham University colleges.
- Elite sport: students can represent Durham University in sports in the British Universities & Colleges Sport league. We currently have four ISC students representing Durham University.
Our goal is to create a friendly, healthy student population. Participating in sports helps our students make meaningful connections with one another, as well as with students at their future place of study. By engaging in sports and a routine that our students can continue upon their progression to Durham University, we hope their sense of belonging will grow deeper roots, helping our students feel confident and stable.
All young people face challenges and opportunities when starting university, particularly our ambitious international students. With many new things to learn and sights set on achievement, pressure and anxiety are potential disruptors for wellbeing. An hour or two of exercise can create a welcome break and a sense of achievement, which can have positive results for physical and mental health. I’ve seen sport help our students develop their confidence whilst studying with us, as well as building leadership, teamwork and organisation skills.
I’m delighted to share that our teams are seeing positive sporting results too. After the first term, our football team were sitting third in the league and our basketball team have just won the third division of the Durham College league. While we might be enjoying success, the league tables aren’t everything. Here’s Jacob, one of our players:
“Football has always been a privilege and joy to many people around the world. Durham ISC has accommodated this privilege by bringing people from all over the world to set aside our different upbringings and enjoy the beautiful game.”
Teaming up for success
We couldn’t have kicked this off without the support of Durham University, who have helped engage our ISC students from the start. The Manager of Queens Campus Sports, Peri Anderson, has been absolutely critical to the programme’s success. Peri’s team have dedicated time to collaborate with our centre’s student enrichment team. They act as a crucial link between the two partners, allowing for the smooth and successful running of the sports programme and its popularity.
The ISC is based on Durham’s Queen’s Campus alongside the University’s Sports Centre and it’s wonderful to have access to the facilities there. When students play their matches, they arrive at the brand new £32 million Sport and Wellbeing Park and see hundreds of students playing sport across the facility. It’s an inspiring and exciting environment.
Sports programmes for international students: winning ingredients
To successfully level up sport in any student wellbeing strategy, here are my top tips:
- Recruit your students! – have your campaign ready for the start of term. For induction week, we create interactive and energetic plans in collaboration with the sports faculty.
- Make it fun – most students will just want to play with their friends for fun. Allow for the sessions to be inclusive, tailored around the students and driven by status.
- Get staff involved – we have an open invitation for all staff to come over and join in with the sports afternoons. It really helps to create a community.
- Use a range of sports – we provide the students with a pre-arrival questionnaire that allows us to get an idea of which sports will be popular, allowing us to prepare a timetable of activities ready for when students arrive.
- Track engagement – it is important to follow the journey of the students once they progress. We’ve found that re-engaging with previous students and allowing them to share their stories inspires prospective new students to participate.
