Introduction
The International Joint Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre for University Physical Education and Sports Training (CUPEST) represents a strategic collaboration between the University of Lancashire and Hunan Normal University, expanding upon a partnership founded in 2017. CUPEST will act as a global center for research, innovation, and knowledge exchange in sports and physical education, supporting academic and professional growth in the field.
Background
Since its establishment in 2017, the University of Lancashire and Hunan Normal University partnership has grown beyond academic programs to include joint research, teacher training, and business engagement in sports and physical education. The partnership's success, reaffirmed through evaluations by the Ministry of Education (2022) and a Periodic Review (2024), inspires both institutions to capitalize further on their collaborative potential. This renewed focus aims to leverage combined resources, networks, and expertise, establishing CUPEST as a key platform to achieve strategic goals in research, innovation, and teaching.
Purpose
CUPEST’s primary goal is to serve as a knowledge exchange hub, promoting best practices, innovative research, and effective teaching in sports and physical education. The Centre aspires to produce significant research contributions that enhance learning, inform policy, and encourage collaboration with industry, government, and other academic institutions.
Strategic Context
Building on the foundation of the University of Lancashire and Hunan Normal University Joint Programme in Sport and Physical Education, CUPEST is positioned to strengthen institutional reputation and maximize future outputs. Adhering to the UK Trusted Research Framework, CUPEST aligns with three core strategic aims:
Research: Advance the body of knowledge in sports and physical education, informing teaching and guiding practice.
Enterprise and Innovation: Bridge academia and industry to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster product development in sports and physical education.
Teaching and Learning: Enhance staff and student mobility and upskill the workforce through diverse professional development opportunities.
Vision and Mission
CUPEST envisions a collaborative hub—both physical and virtual—where academia, industry, and professionals unite to drive innovation, research, and practice in sports and physical education. CUPEST’s mission is to:
Create a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners.
Promote professional growth among all stakeholders through knowledge exchange.
Deliver impactful research and enterprise initiatives that advance the field of sports and physical education.
Objectives
Research Output: Generate impactful research papers, case studies, and conference presentations in sports and physical education.
Internationalization: Encourage staff and student mobility through global partnerships and exchanges.
Collaborative Research: Establish and maintain collaborations among CUPEST members to produce world-class research in sports and physical education.
Academic Journals: Partner with a respected publisher to establish a dedicated journal focus, promoting CUPEST outputs and innovations in sports, physical education, and human movement pedagogy.
Research Funding: Facilitate multiple research proposal submissions within sports and physical education domains.
Industry-Education Interface: Foster partnerships between academia and industry to co-create knowledge initiatives, products, and solutions.
Student Startups: Provide mentorship and experience to support student-led ventures in sports and physical education.
Specialist Research Unit: Achieve recognition from the Ministry of Education (PRC) as a Specialist Research Unit in physical education and sports teaching in higher education.
Mobility and Collaboration: Enable national and international mobility for staff and students, fostering collaborations with external institutions.
Professional Development: Offer professional development programs such as teacher training, coach education, seminars, CPD learning modules, and E-resources for continuous learning.