SUS Physical Activity Committee

Pysical Activity SUS Physical Activity: more students, more active, more often.

Universities in Scotland have excellent sport and exercise facilities, with well trained staff, in central locations throughout Scotland. SUS seeks to insure maximal benefit from these fantastic facilities by encouraging more students to take part in more physical activity as a part of their University lives. This can be through recreational sports opportunities including intra-mural leagues, casual gym use or jogging groups, or with something as simple as promotion of walking as a mode of transport for short distances.

The group comprises both departmental staff, student representatives and exercise coordinators, and seeks to make exercise, of whatever form, a preferred enjoyable and rewarding lifestyle choice - not only for the many thousands already taking part in physical activity in a university setting, but with the stated aim of increasing the numbers of those who are taking part. Its current Chair is Juliet Balfour, from Heriot-Watt University.

By facilitating and promoting physical activity in Universities, SUSPAC will increase the number of students, staff, and local community users taking part in regular exercise - in line with sportscotland targets. With 60% of Scotland's young people projected to be in Higher or Further Education by 2010, SUS will contribute to a fitter and healthier Scotland and help to mould the exercise habits of future generations.

The group will drive initiatives to educate and train the sector, including stakeholders like Athletic and Sports Union Presidents, in the importance and roles of recreational health and fitness alongside more traditional competitive sports. SUS PAC will also work with external bodies such as ILAM, Fitness Scotland and jogscotland to ensure both quality provision and best use of facilities, and that a range of high-quality and well-delivered physical activity options are available in all our institutions, with training for those delivering these locally. The Committee will also produce quarterly newsletters, flyers and good practice guides and will carry out a regular audit to monitor levels of activity, and seek to drive up the number of people using our University facilities.

For more information, please contact the SUS Office or Jackie Davidson, Chair of the SUS Physical Activity Committee, j.davidson@abdn.ac.uk.