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3 Apr 2009 10:46:20
Professor David Kirk has been appointed to the University of Bedfordshire’s Alexander Chair of Physical Education and Sport, in its Faculty of Education and Sport.
This key role involves leading the development of research in physical education and sport pedagogy, working closely with staff and research students, connecting the University of Bedfordshire to national and international research networks, and working with local schools and teachers, coaches and sports clubs to add value through research to the educational and sporting experiences they provide for young people.
Professor Kirk joins from Leeds Metropolitan University where he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of Physical Education and Youth Sport and, from 2005 until 2008, Dean of the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education.
He also holds an Honorary Chair in Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland, Australia, and is Guest Professor at Ghent University in Belgium.
A Fellow of the Physical Educational Research Association, Professor Kirk has published widely on educational change, physical education and youth sport. His research interests include young people's experiences of community-based sport, schooling bodies, curriculum change in physical education, and situated learning in physical education and sport.
Professor Kirk, who will take up the
Chair at the University of Bedfordshire on 1 June 2009, said: “Bedford was once recognised as a leader in
physical education, nationally and internationally, rivalled only by
Loughborough and Carnegie, institutions in which I have also worked as professor.
"The Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon, and the Dean, Professor Cara Aitchison, outlined their vision for physical education at the University of Bedfordshire; I eagerly accepted the challenge to make Bedford great again.”
Professor Cara Aitchison, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Sport, said: “The University is delighted that Professor Kirk is joining in this capacity. His research experience and knowledge will contribute to our continuing development of the University of Bedfordshire as the national leader in physical education research.”
The university is the UK’s largest provider of physical education teacher training and has a track record and reputation established over more than 100 years with sport studies and sport science also now concentrated on the state-of-the-art Bedford Campus.
For further information about the Faculty of Education and Sport visit www.beds.ac.uk/departments/ecs
Latest news» 2009» April» The University of Bedfordshire announces prestigious appointment
