It’s where the magic happens: Engaging student leadership through purposeful partnerships in sport

The case study aims to capture the fundamental features and outcomes of purposeful partnerships with sports organisations – celebrating ‘Where the magic happens’ through student-led projects in sport. The ambition of this short practical case study is to highlight our use of practical and event management modules that facilitate applied student leadership. This approach is underpinned by the university’s strategic aim to make a positive social impact in local communities through purposeful partnerships. The experiential projects build students’ leadership experience in developing, running and evaluating applied projects in partnership with sports organisations. In doing so, students build social capital with future employers, creating a cycle of employable graduates working in the sector, and a virtuous cycle for student-led knowledge exchange.