Sandwell College Sport students jetted off on a life-changing trip to America, getting a taste of elite athletics and experiencing the electric atmosphere of a New York Knicks game.
Enhancing their skills and boosting their employability in New England, as part of the government-funded Turing Scheme, learners got to:
– tour the world-famous Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox and the oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the USA
– receive a talk from the Boston Athletics Association at the Boston Public Library finish line to learn about the technical direction of the Boston Marathon and what changes have been made since the 2013 bombing
– experience professional men’s basketball at Boston Celtics and women’s ice hockey at Boston Fleet
– enjoy the St Patrick’s Day Parade, Freedom Trail and a day in New York City.
Discussing topics including strength and conditioning, and hearing from sport psychology experts at Boston University, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Sport students also got involved in peer exchanges at a number of community colleges around the city, to compare how sport is organised and delivered at different levels of the US educational system.
Head of Sport, David Williams, said: “This trip has really broadened our students’ horizons and provided them with invaluable cultural experiences.”
The Turing Scheme, named after pioneering British mathematician Alan Turing, has a particular focus on students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups and provides them with the opportunity to enhance their academic and personal growth through international study and work placements, equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive in a global world.
Rachel Walker, Policy and Projects Manager at AoC Sport said: “The Turing Scheme illustrates the vital role colleges play in shaping young people’s futures and how they break down the barriers to opportunity that hamstring the government’s missions on social mobility and economic growth.
“This programme does not just open doors, it builds bridges, offering students the chance to gain the skills and experiences that employers demand.”
