University Sport News  

University of Stirling to lead Scotland’s winning sports ambitions

The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) is to invest £1 million in elite athletes studying at universities and colleges across Scotland.  The money will establish a national University for Sporting Excellence, based at the University of Stirling, and create a new sports scholarship scheme.
 
Led by the University of Stirling, the Winning Students scholarship scheme is aimed at new and existing sports students who have the potential to reach the top of their sport and ultimately win medals in national and international events.  The funding is initially for two years (academic years 2008-09 and 2009-10) and will be spent on a variety of educational and training materials.
 
The first sports to benefit from scholarship funding will be Hockey, Swimming, and Women’s Football.  The funding will be channelled through the University of Stirling to colleges and universities across Scotland who will eventually form the Winning Students network.
 
Mark Batho, Chief Executive of SFC said: “In the same vein that Lottery funding has helped cycling become a very successful sport for Britain at the 2008 Olympics, we were keen to make this strategic investment to help make a difference to student athletes who have a very strong chance of excelling in their sport and winning medals, whether it be at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or World Championship competitions. 
 
“This investment at the early stage of a student’s education will ensure they have access to the dedicated facilities and support required to combine sport and education, as they attempt to fulfil their potential as top athletes in their chosen field.”
 
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to investing in sport at Scotland's universities and colleges. Scotland's elite sportspeople deserve the opportunity to further both their sport and academic ambition through a flexible network of support at home in Scotland.  Along with our university and college network of sporting excellence and the work underway by the Scottish Institute of Sport and others, the Winning Students scheme will ensure that Scotland's best home grown athletes receive the right support to help them achieve success.”
 
Professor Christine Hallett, Principal of the University of Stirling, added: “The University of Stirling is delighted to be leading the Winning Students programme, which is a unique opportunity to create something special for Scottish sport.  We aim to develop a culture of winning by sharing world class sporting performance, education and research with Scotland’s universities and colleges.”
 
The second tranche of sports that will benefit from scholarships will be determined by the Winning Students Advisory Board. The full membership of the network is also still to be determined and will be published by the University of Stirling soon.  The scholarships will be open to UK nationals studying at a Scottish university or college that is part of the Winning Students network.