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Business & Economy

New sports and rehabilitation facilities at University of Sunderland

Students who secure a place on the University of Sunderland’s sports and rehabilitation therapy programme will be able to access new multi-million pound facilities once the UK lockdown has come to an end.

The university’s science complex has recently had a makeover, meaning that future students will be using state-of-the-art rehabilitation-based equipment to help them progress in their studies.

The course has been designed to offer students with a particular interest in musculoskeletal rehabilitation the opportunity to get industry-recognised qualifications, while studying for a degree that is accredited by the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers.

University of Sunderland now offers a full range of health and wellbeing courses, having recently opened its medical school last year.

People can now study Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Paramedic Sciences, Sports and Exercise Sciences, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy at one of two city centre campuses.

Dr Bob Hogg, senior lecturer in biomechanics and performance analysis and leader of the new programme, said: “The three-year programme will offer students a minimum of 400-hours of work placements which will be critical in preparing them for future employment.

“We will offer the students the ability to gain industry recognised qualifications in the sports and rehabilitation therapy field during each year of their programme.

“There is more and more need for this type of qualification, as many health professionals are now referring patients to specialist manual therapists.”

The programme will see students sharing five modules alongside those undertaking a Physiotherapy degree showing the close relationship between these two professions.

Dr Hogg added: “We also prepare them for differing aspects of life in the working world.

“For example, many sports rehabilitation therapists are self-employed, so we have recognised this and developed modules which teach students about preparing a business plan.”