01 INTRODUCTION Trinity Sport has always set standards in terms of provision, participation and success. This Strategy endeavours to unleash the further potential of sport to contribute to and deliver a brilliant experience that benefits students, graduates, the community and the University. Why sport? Although it has been long recognised that sport is an important part of the Trinity experience and compliments the academic excellence achieved by students, it is often seen as just a hobby, a nice to have, but it is much more than that. University Sport is about physical exercise, health, personal achievement, competition, social cohesion and interactions. Sport transcends so many facets of university life from the recruitment, retention, development and transition of students to increasing the profile of the University, local community engagement, generating business and making a positive contribution to lives. Sport is an excellent enabler for the delivery of the University’s strategic goals. The Strategy for Sport identifies the values, mission and vision which are founded on four key messages about the impact of Trinity Sport. 1 Sport as an Essential Co-Curricular Activity ‘Trinity recognises that participation in extra and co-curricular activities enhances both the intellectual and personal development of students’ i (Strategic Plan, Trinity College Dublin) Sport creates opportunities for the transfer of learning between the lecture rooms and the sports’ arenas, through the training and development of professional skills of students. Sport helps to shape the future leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, business people and academics produced by Trinity. Student involvement in sport as a player, administrator, club officer, volunteer, or coach will assist with the cultivation of key employability and transferable skills that bolster further the contribution of our graduates on a local and global scale. Recent research in the UK shows that student participation and volunteering in sport is associated with earning higher salaries than for those who were not involved in sport. Moreover, sport can provide many positive attributes that employers are looking for, notably, team work and leadership skills derived from not just playing, but the ‘added value’ comes from organisational skills and taking on responsibilityii. Sport teaches participation, cohesion and community values which helps prepare for a successful career. Global research also reveals that executive women are more likely to have played sport and to hire other women who have played sportiii. This Strategy ensures that students who are engaged in Trinity Sport will be more aware of their role as global citizens, as they are provided and facilitated with opportunities to explore their potential, create memories and experiences that they will share throughout the Trinity community and which they will carry with them beyond the boundaries of university life. Sport students develop key attributes that also transcend into academic environments, demonstrating the influence of sport to go far beyond the simple metrics of just those who are active in sport. Sport can contribute positively to the Trinity education. i Strategic Plan 2014-2019, Trinity College Dublin, Goal A2.4 Student Led Activity ii The Impact of Engagement in Sport on Graduate Employability, Sheffield Hallam University, 2013 iii Ernest and Young (EY) Women Athletes Business Network and espnW http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/news-female-executives-say-participation in-sport-helps-accelerate--leadership-and-career-potential 2015 2 RAISING OUR GAME A Strategy for Sport at Trinity 2015 - 2018 “Sport has the power to change the World…” Nelson Mandela, Honorary Graduate
TCD Strategy Document for Sport
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