The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) is partnering UK higher and further education institutions to help increase student employability within the sector.

The tie-up will provide students affiliate status and a pathway into membership to the sport and physical activity sector’s only chartered professional body on graduation.

The alliance also offers the institution public acknowledgement of their links with the professional body as well as input into – and influence on – the development of learning programmes that are focused on employability within the sector.

The higher education (HE) partnership is available to all UK universities and the further education (FE) alliance is exclusively available to colleges that are members of AoC Sport.

Tara Dillon, CIMSPA chief executive, said: “The launch of these new higher and further education partnerships is another key milestone in our workforce development project. CIMSPA is excited to be working with HE/FE institutions to ensure ‘employability’ is at the heart of degrees and learning programmes in sport and physical activity.”

Marcus Kingwell, AoC Sport managing director, said: “We are delighted to support the CIMSPA Further Education Partner Scheme. This will help AoC Sport member colleges get closer to employers and provide them with a range of opportunities to increase their student’s employability within the sector.

“Through involvement in the scheme colleges will also play an important role in shaping professional standards. Colleges are crucial in the development of the sector’s future workforce and these partnerships will ensure students are prepared with the appropriate skills and qualifications.”

The University College of Birmingham (UCB) has been piloting the new partnership. Andrew Burston, assistant dean of school – sport, said: “As a provider of vocational programmes UCB recognises the importance of graduate employability, and so it is logical that all of our sports management students should enjoy the benefits of being a CIMSPA student affiliate.”

CIMSPA is also developing endorsement structures for sector-related degrees and learning programmes to provide HE and FE partners with clear kitemarks that their courses have the recognition of the sector’s government-backed and employer-led chartered institute. HE and FE institutions that become CIMSPA partners will have priority access to this endorsement system when it is piloted in 2017.

The HE and FE alliance completes CIMSPA’s partnership portfolio for awarding organisations, skills development partners and employers. This ‘closed loop’ of education, qualifications and high-quality training and workplace CPD exists to meet the demands made of CIMSPA in both the government’s 'Sporting Future’ and Sport England’s ‘Towards an Active Nation’ strategies.

HE and FE institutions can start their partnership applications here.