Stirling sport students contribute thousands of volunteer hours

Placement partners include the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, football clubs Rangers, Greenock Morton, Dumbarton, Stranraer and Stirling Albion, as well as national organisations including the Scottish Institute of Sport, the Scottish Amateur Football Association, HorseScotland and Street Soccer Scotland.

Other partners include Glasgow Life, ClubSport Stirling, Galaxy Sports Foundation, GSI Events, Active Schools programmes, schools, charities and community groups across Scotland.

The placements form a central part of the University's commitment to experiential learning, enabling students to build professional networks, develop practical skills and graduate with valuable workplace experience alongside their academic qualifications.

The University of Stirling recently ranked among the UK's top 40 institutions for Skilled Graduate Outcomes. Graduate Outcomes - the UK's largest annual social survey of recent graduates - found that 97.9% of the University's Sport graduates were in positive destinations.

One organisation benefiting from the programme is Bailliefields Community Hub, near Falkirk, which supports local people through initiatives including dementia groups, inclusive sport and physical activity programmes, and projects tackling social isolation. University of Stirling students have contributed to coaching, event planning, community strategy and inclusive sport projects.

Graduate Anne Broadhurst credits her placement with helping her secure her dream job as the Hub's Community Sport and Health Officer.

She said: “I worked with so many different people - from coaching cricket to running multi-sport programmes in rural areas. It really helped my confidence and communication skills.”

The impact of placements extends to some of the sport sector's highest-profile events. Through a partnership with Glasgow Life, final-year students have gained experience supporting the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with many securing paid employment with the organisers following their placements. Beyond the assessed placements, University of Stirling students also helped to deliver this summer's Games in volunteer roles.

Among them was first-year BSc Sport and Exercise Science student Jane Addies, who volunteered with the Games' Spectator Services Team.

She said: “Taking part in a public event is outside of my comfort zone, but that's exactly why I wanted to get involved. I knew it would challenge me and help me build confidence.”

Emily Barnard

BA (Hons) Sport Business Management student Emily Barnard said the Commonwealth Games experience had also given her confidence as she prepares for a career in sport.

“Going straight out into the world of work can be daunting but this placement has allowed me to build my teamwork, communication and time management skills while also giving me the perfect opportunity to network and gain valuable advice from professionals working in the industry,” she said.

Student placements at the Games were organised by Craig McIntyre, Lecturer in Sport Management, whose career spans both academia and the delivery of major sporting events.

He said: “We recognise the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry and offering our students the opportunity to undertake placements as part of their course provides valuable experience while enhancing their employability and professional networks.”

Invaluable opportunities

Professor Paul Dimeo, Head of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: "Experiential learning is at the heart of our sport programmes because it allows students to put theory into practice while making a genuine contribution to organisations and communities.

“Our placement partners provide invaluable opportunities for students to develop their confidence, professional skills and industry networks. In return, our students bring enthusiasm, fresh ideas and a willingness to make a difference.

“We're proud of the impact these partnerships are having across Scotland's sport sector and are always interested in hearing from new organisations that would like to work with us to help develop the next generation of sport professionals.”

Alongside the assessed placements completed as part of their courses, many University of Stirling sport students also volunteer in their own time with clubs, schools and community organisations, making an even greater contribution to sport and physical activity across Scotland.