Pat McCarthy

Biographical Summary

After a successful career in the Royal Air Force I came to University teaching via Secondary School and Further Education. I have worked for the University of Wales (Herefordshire College of Technology), the University of Birmingham and the Open University before arriving at the University of Wolverhampton.

My own personal experience as a mature student has assisted me in understanding the needs of all my students. I believe that I am particularly strong when delivering to mature or ‘non-standard’ students and my experience of teaching at HE level fits the ethos of the widening participation and social inclusion agendas.

I have spent a total of ten years as either a Programme or Course Leader, taking 2 programmes successfully through revalidation. I have spent four years at the University of Wolverhampton working as a member of HLSS/SPAL Standing Panel helping to ensure the quality of programmes delivered by these two schools. In 2003 I acted as External Advisor to the University of Lancaster (Edge Hill College) on the Revalidation of their BSc Leisure programme. In July 2005 I was the External Advisor to the University of Bolton (MANCAT) for the validation of FdA in Sport and Fitness Management programme. In 2008 the University Campus Suffolk (University of Essex/University of East Anglia) invited me to be the External Advisor to for the validation of FdA in Football Development & Coaching and BA (Hons) (Top-up) programme. I am currently the External Examiner to University of Chichester for their BA (Hons) Sport and Fitness Management programme and BA (Hons) Sports Studies (Sports Development).

Since 1 June 2006 I have held the post of Principal Lecturer (Admissions and Collaborative Links). I have responsibility for the operational organisation and administration of admissions to all programmes of study in the School of Sports, Performing Arts and Leisure (SSPAL). As part of this role I am required to maintain and analyse application statistics for all our programmes. I update and advise School Executive on a monthly basis of our recruiting position, providing solutions to any issues. I am also responsible for the organisation and management of all SSPAL’s collaborative programmes, both in the UK and Overseas. These experiences coupled with my 23 years as a Personnel Administrator in the Royal Air Force supply me with a strong administrative base which I utilise to benefit my students, colleagues and the University

In 2004 worked as joint Project Co-ordinator for a bid to Sports England ‘Active England’ fund. The project, entitled “Coach Recruitment & Retention”, aimed to address issues of sustainability for Sports Clubs within the West Midlands whilst moving towards meeting some of the objectives of the Government’s Coaching Task Force. The project sought to encourage more participants into sports leadership through the recruitment and retention of volunteers in sports clubs. The project was a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Sports, Performing Arts & Leisure, the Black Country Sports Partnership, Walsall Rugby Club and Walsall Cricket Club. Whilst unsuccessful in obtaining funding, on this occasion, we continue to keep the partnership alive. I am committed to incorporating the academic community within the wider communities

Teaching responsibilities

• 4SR014 - Sport History
• 4SR016 - Introduction to Sport Development
• 5SW001 - Research, Interpretation and Analysis
• 5SR021 - Critical Issues for Sport Development
• 6SW001 - The Professional Project
• 6SR018 - The Politics of Global Mega Sporting Events
• SR3027 – London 2012 (APSSB [Singapore] )
• SR3028 – Strategic Issues for Sports Development (APSSB [Singapore] )

Non-Teaching responsibilities

• Dept of Sport and Physical Activity Admissions Tutor• Military Personel Support Tutor
• Member of SSPAL SQEC Annual Monitoring Report Working Group
• External Examiner to University of Chichester - BA (Hons) Sport and Fitness Management p

Research interests

Qualifications

• 1998 PGCE/QTS (Secondary) University of Gloucestershire
• 1995 MA International & European Studies (Third World), Coventry University
• 1993 BA (Hons) International Political Economy (2:1) Open University

Membership of professional organisations

• Member of General Teaching Council 
• UK Society for Co-operative Studies
• Political Studies Association
• UK Society for Co-operative Studies

Relevant Employment History

• External Advisor to the University Campus Suffolk (University of Essex/University of East Anglia) for the validation of FdA in Football Development & Coaching and BA (Hons) (Top-up) programme – 2008
• External Examiner to University of Chichester - BA (Hons) Sport and Fitness Management programme and BA (Hons) Sports Studies (Sports Development) – 2007-2011
• External Advisor to the University of Bolton (MANCAT) for the validation of FdA in Sport and Fitness Management programme – 2005
• External Advisor to the University of Lancaster (Edge Hill College) on the Revalidation of their BSc Leisure programme – 2003
• University of Wolverhampton 2003 – 2007 member of Standing Panel for the Validation and Revalidation of Academic Programmes
• University of Wolverhampton 2007 – 2009 member of Academic Board
• University of Wolverhampton 2007– 2009 member of University Academic Strategy Committee
• The Open University, 1999 – to date, Associate Lecturer in Social Sciences,
• University of Birmingham, 2000-2001, Visiting Lecturer in Sociology
• Herefordshire College of Technology, 2000-2001, Programme Leader (University of Wales) BA (Hons) Leisure/Tourism Management programmes
• Herefordshire College of Technology, 1999-2000, Programme Leader EdExcel programmes in Public Services
• Various LEA’s and Teaching Agencies, 1998-1999, Supply Teacher – Birmingham/Bristol/Gloucester.
• Friends Provident, 1996-1997, Financial Advisor
• Royal Air Force, 1973-1996, Personnel Administrator – various supervisory management positions including 5 years as an instructor at the RAF School of Personnel Administration responsible for the provision of administrative training to 200 students per year.

Publications and Conference Papers

Publications

• November 2006, co-author with C. Dale, “I like your style: The learning approaches of leisure, tourism and hospitality students studying generic modules” Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, Vol 5, No2.
• September 2006, Biscomb, K., McCarthy, P., Groves, M., & Griggs, G. (2006) “Can inclusion be anything other an illusion in sport”. The Sport and Exercise Scientist. December, Issue 10, pp.18-19.
• May 2005, author ‘Stay Away Sports – Wolverhampton Revisited’ published in the Institute of Sports and Recreation Managers (ISRM) journal ‘Recreation’ Vol. 64 No 4.
• December 2004, co-author with C. Dale, “Students, Studies and Styles: An Analysis of the Learning Styles of Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Students Studying Generic Modules”. University of Wolverhampton (CELT)
• November 2004, author of academic review on the educational resource, www.altis.ac.uk, in the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, Vol 3, No2,
• September 2004, co-author “Measuring Service Quality Expectations and Perceptions: A Comparison Study between English and Greek Port and Recreation Customers” with Barlas, A., and Kouthouris, C., published in Papanikos, G.T. (Ed.) (2004). ‘The Economics and Management of Mega Athletic Events: Olympic Games, Professional Sports, and Other Essays’.
• July 2004, co-author with S Gelder, ‘Stay Away Sports’ published in the Institute of Sports and Recreation Managers (ISRM) journal ‘Recreation’ Vol. 63 No 6.

Current Research

• Recently commenced work on PhD entitled “A qualitative analysis of media representation of women in sports during the Olympic years 1984 and 2004”. The work aims to investigate the impact that media visibility has upon participants and potential participants from under-represented groups.
• Current Working Paper entitled “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Review of validity and reliability of qualitative research methods.

Conference Papers

• May 2004, “Students, Studies and Styles: An Analysis of the Learning Styles of Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Students Studying Generic Modules” Open University Social Science Forum.
• July 2003, “Reclaiming the Streets: Children’s Play, Health and Access to Public Spaces”. Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference at the University of Surrey (Roehampton).
• Co-authored Conference Papers/Debates:
• September 2006, “Can Inclusion be anything other than an illusion in Sport?” 2006 Annual BASES Conference, “From Education to Application”. University of Wolverhampton.
• May 2006, “Can Inclusion be anything other than an illusion in Sport?” 2nd International Qualitative Conference in Sport and Exercise/ 1st International Sporting Cultures Conference. Liverpool John Moore University.
• April 2006, “I like your style: The learning approaches of leisure, tourism and hospitality students studying generic modules”. 1st European Conference on the First Year Experience. University of Teeside.
• June 2004, Barlas, A., McCarthy, P. and Kouthouris, C., “Measuring Service Quality Expectations and Perceptions: A Comparison Study between English and Greek Port and Recreation Customers”. 4th International Conference on Sports/6th International Conference of the International Association of Sports Economists. University of Piraeus.
• September 2003, Gelder, S. & McCarthy, P., “Identification of themes contributing to non- usage of public sector sport and recreation facilities”. European Association of Sports Managers conference. Stockholm.