Marc Keech’s research while affiliated with University of Brighton and other places

This publication comprises ten case study papers written by sport management academic colleagues from the UK and European higher education institutions. This case study publication focuses on developing employability-related interventions, and each case study outlines curricular or co-curricular practice connected to the institution concerned. The publication is an intellectual output of the ERASMUS+ Funded Developing Sport Managers and Leaders Across Europe project collaboration. ERASMUS+ Sport collaboration projects involve colleagues at multiple institutions and agencies working together to address a common theme. This publication is part of an agreed action with the project funders for two reasons. First, to provide those higher institutions involved or part of an extended network with an opportunity to profile-raise their good practice in employability-related pedagogies. Second, the project aimed to produce an output for the discipline, enabling the good practice to be shared more widely. As a result, the ten case studies here address some pertinent issues, including work-based learning, work-related learning, career development learning, professional development and enterprise and entrepreneurship education. These case studies follow themes utilised in a conceptual field testing study of sport management academics exploring if the discipline can adopt a common language and set of abstract principles to develop employability within the global discipline community. We hope that readers in the Sport Management discipline, other disciplines or areas of professional development find this case study publication a valuable resource. We recognise that the case studies share the UK and European focus, but some of their recommendations will broadly be applicable across the Sport Management Networks. We would like to take the opportunity to thank all authors and other colleagues involved in the publication for your expert insight and for sharing your practice. We want to extend our thanks to sport management network leads and cross-disciplinary colleagues engaged in stimulating the project team through a series of advisory and webinar sessions:

Purpose: This paper explores the perceptions of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at Football in the Community (FitC) organisations associated with English professional football clubs regarding developments and changes over the 25 years since their inception. Of interest was how the schemes might/might not reflect the original underpinning ethos, aims, and intended outcomes. Methodology/approach: Ten CEOs participated in interviews designed to explore their perceptions of the challenges, developments, and opportunities in the industry over 25 years. Findings: Thematic analysis revealed four main issues facing the sector: security and sustainability of delivery and funding; the importance of growth and diversification; engagement with multiple agendas and agencies; “professionalisation” of the workforce; and brand values and awareness. For CEOs, success of their schemes was measured both in terms of financial security of programmes and social impact within the community. Practical implications: The sustainability of FitC schemes is inextricably linked to the success of organisations, contributing to social policy objectives. Research contribution: Through the identification of strategic and organisational factors that have underpinned the development and outcomes of FitC, the paper addresses the gap in the literature by considering the perspectives of CEOs.

In the context of the global migrant and refugee crisis there is considerable enthusiasm for the notion that participation by migrants of refugee background in community sport can play a role in fostering a sense of community belonging. Sport potentially is an opportunity for refugees to integrate (with each other and host communities). Community sports organisations in the UK - and specifically sports clubs - continually face challenges to devote resources to social policy outcomes beyond increasing sport participation. This article argues that the active approach of coaches, volunteers and managers to consciously manage inclusive sport activities is central for the integration of refugees. Utilising a mixed methods approach, this study analysed the impact of one sports club that used table tennis to promote the active integration of refugees. The study found three significant areas of impact: first, an active approach from coaches can facilitate integration; second, such an approach should be conducted in a safe, enjoyable and welcoming environment; and that sport is a positive social activity for youths with a refugee background if the focus of the activity centres on fun and social interaction, rather than just sporting skills.

The contribution of sport to the ending of apartheid is examined. It is argued that claims for the effectiveness of sports diplomacy often exceeds the available evidence. However, the association between opposition to apartheid and sport was strong at least from the early 1960s up to the transition to democracy. It is argued that while it is clearly impossible to quantify the contribution made by sports sanctions to the end of apartheid it is possible to provide indicators of significance. The selected indicators of significance are the capacity of the opposition sports organizations to influence the agendas of international sports organizations, international bodies, including the UN and the Commonwealth, and, at domestic level, the capacity to promote a substantial response from the government and the ANC. It is concluded that sport fulfilled an important symbolic function in the anti-apartheid struggle and was able to influence the other policy actors, but generally to a far less significant extent than is usually asserted.