Karen Bill

Biographical summary

Karen Bill is Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise in the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure and Director of the Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance. She was admitted by the National council for Graduate Entrepreneurship as an Entrepreneurship Education Fellow.

On a personal level, Karen has taken up jogging in order to keep fit and keep up with her four boys. In the past her main sport was tennis where she competed at county level.

Teaching responsibilities

Karen’s main teaching has been in the area of sports management. In 2009 she published an edited book entitled Sports Management with Learning Matters. In 2004, Karen gained a law degree and has taught sports law as well as researching and publishing in this area. More recently, after becoming an Entrepreneurship Education Fellow, she has focused much of her research in the area of entrepreneurship and has developed and taught on new entrepreneurship modules across the School at both Masters and undergraduate level in sport/leisure and performing arts.

Non-teaching responsibilities

• Chair: University of Wolverhampton Athena Swan/Women in Research Group
• Chair: School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure Applied Research Development Committee
• Chair: School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure Health and Safety Committee
• Chair: School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure Reader/Professor Group
• Member of University Research Committee
• Member of the University of Wolverhampton Innovation, Enterprise and Strategy Management Group
• Member of the University of Wolverhampton Concordat Group
• Member of the University Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Board
• Member of the University Work-based and Placement Learning Forum

Research interests

Karen’s research interests primarily lie around entrepreneurship and in particular, a focus on students experiences in relation to business start-up.

Qualifications

• 2008 - EdD in Professional Practice (Learning and Teaching) Wolverhampton University (in progress)
• 2008 – International Entrepreneur Educators Programme, National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
• 2004 – Common Professional Examination (CPE) – Legal Studies, Staffordshire University
• 1992 - PGCE/FAHE, University of Wolverhampton
• 1990 – Further Education Adult Teachers Certificate 730, City and Guilds
• 1989 – MSc Recreation Management, Loughborough University
• 1987 - BA Sports Studies (with Commendation), West Sussex Institute of Higher Education

Professional Qualifications

• Prince 2 Project Management Practitioner Qualification
• EQ-i 2.0 and EQ360 Certification Program

Employment history

• 2008 University of Wolverhampton, Associate Dean, Research (current post)
• 2005-08 University of Worcester - Principal Lecturer Enterprise & External Relations
• 2002-05 University of Worcester – Senior Lecturer Sports Management and New Curriculum Development Co-coordinator
• 2001-02 University of Wolverhampton - Principal Lecturer - External Relations and Acting Head of Department, Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality
• 1993-01 University of Wolverhampton - Senior Lecturer - Subject Head Leisure Management
• 1991-93 Stourbridge College - Section Head, Leisure and Tourism Department.
• 1989-91 Bilston Community College – Lecturer in Sport and Leisure

Professional roles

• External Quality Assurance Reviewer for the Sport Faculty at Sheffield Hallam University (2012-Present)
• External Reviewer for Research – Business Department, Hartpury College, UWE (2011- present)
• External Examiner, University of Gloucester, Sport Faculty, Masters Programme in Christian Sport and Outreach and Sports Chaplaincy (2009-Present)
• External Examiner, UCLAN – School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, MA Sport Management (2010- present)
• Regional Chair - Contact Knowledge Exchange of Regional Universities - Sport theme group developing business engagement with Industry. www.wmsportbusiness.co.uk (2007-2010)
• Entrepreneurship Education Fellow, National Council of Graduate Entrepreneurship (2008)
• H.E representative ENSSEE (European Network of Sport Science Education and Employment (2006-7)
• West Midlands Sport England/Skills Active – Executive Sport Skills Group (2005)
• Knowledge Transfer Fellow, University of Worcester (2005)
• Chief External Examiner – N. E. Wales Institute of H.E (2004-2009)
• Institute of Leisure Amenity Management (ILAM) External Examiner on the CPD Diploma in Leisure Studies (Finance and Law paper – 2004-2008)
• Treasurer of the UK HESCLRS (UK Higher Education Standing Conference for Leisure, Recreation and Sport) (2002-04)
• Member of Skills Active (NTO for Leisure/Sport) Education & Training Committee. (2001-03)
• QAA - Appointment as a Subject Specialist Reviewer, Unit 25 - Leisure, Hospitality, Tourism & Sport. (1999-2001)

• Bill, K. & Rhoden, C. (2011) Business Support in Sport – Strategy or Serendipity? Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 18(4), 821-832.
• Bill, K (2011) Book Review: Sport, Physical Recreation and the Law. Managing Leisure. Volume 17. Taylor and Francis.
• West, J., Bill, K. and Martin, L. (2010) What constitutes ethics in sport and exercise science? Research Ethics Review, 6 (4)
• Bill, K (2010) CD: Video Diaries Graduate Sport Entrepreneurs. Oxford. Higher Education Academy. ISBN: 978-0-9556732-1-4
• Bill, K (2008) Sports Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching CD. Oxford. Higher Education Academy. ISBN 978-0-9556732-0-7
• Martin, L., West, J. and Bill, K. (2008). Incorporating Problem-Based Learning Strategies to Develop Learner Autonomy and Employability Skills in Sports Science Undergraduates. JoHLSTE, 7 (1), 18 – 30
• Bill, K (2006) ‘Supporting Entrepreneurship: The development of Entrepreneurship Education within UK sport’, NCGE Working Paper Series 026/2006. http://www.ncge.org.uk/communities/files/biblio643.pdf
• Bill, K and Bowen-Jones, W (2005) Enhancing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Employability through PDP. (HEA HLST Employability Case-study) www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/hlst/documents/projects/Employability/employ_bill.pdf
• Bill, K (May 2005) The prevalence and nature of age discrimination practices in UK sport and recreation organizations. British Association of Sports Law Journal.
• Bill, K & Dr Diann Eley (2003) ‘Dreams and Teams Young Leaders Project’ The final Report. Prepared for the British Council and Youth Sport Trust.
• C Rhodes, K Bill, K Biscomb, A Nevill, S Bruneau (2002) ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education: support at the further education/higher education interface and its impact– a research report’. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, Volume 54, Number 1, 2002)
• Summerfield, K & White, A (1989) Korfball - A model of Egalitarianism: Sociology of Sport Journal (Vol 6, No, 2, 1989).

Books

• Bill, K (March 2009) Ed, Sports Management. Essex: Learning Matters.

Book chapters

• Bill, K and Gardiner, S (In Press) ‘Sports Law’ In Beech, J & Chadwick, S ‘The Business of Sport’. Pearson Publishing. 2nd Edition. (A Textbook for Undergraduate Sports/Business Students)
• Bowen-Jones, W., and Bill, K. (2009) in Buswell, J. (Ed) Enhancing Student-Centred Learning. Oxford: Joint HLST/BMAF publication.
• Bill, K & Jones, W. B (2006) Enhancing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Employability through PDP’ In Enhancing Employability in Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism. Oxford: HEA.
• Bill, K. (2008) Enhancing Enterprise and Employability through PDP. In Becket, N and Kemp, P (Eds) Developing Graduate Employability: case studies in hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism. Oxford: Threshold Press.
• Bill, K & Pepper, A (2005) ‘Tourism Law’, In Beech, J & Chadwick, S (2005) The Business of Tourism’ Pearson Publishing; Textbook for Undergraduate Tourism Students.
• Bill, K (2004) ‘Sports Law’ In Beech, J & Chadwick, S ‘The Business of Sport’. Pearson Publishing. (A Textbook for Undergraduate Sports/Business Students)

Conference presentations

• Bill, K. (2008) Idea Conference, Boosting entrepreneurship teaching in Europe’. Invited Panel Member. Denmark.
• Bill, K , & Dr. Smith, K. (2007) NCGE/UKSEC International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference, Workshop presentation on technology enhanced enterprise education. 10-12 September.
• Bill, K & Rhoden, C. (2007) Business Support in Sport – Strategy or Serendipity? Paper presented at the ISBE conference in Glasgow, November. (Selected for best practice paper)
• Bill, K. (2007) Staffordshire University – Technology Enhanced Enterprise Education. 
• Bill, K. (2006) University of Worcester - KTI Conference. Presentation on the KTI Fellowship/te3 project.
• Bill, K (2006) HEA HLST Pedagogic Research and Development Day – University of Worcester, ‘Workshop on te3 project’
• Bill, K (2005) Higher National Academy. Key presenter - ‘Teaching Legal Aspects of Sport and Leisure’ - LTSN for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism conference, Leeds
• Bill, K. (2004) Speaker - 10th International Association of Sports Law Scientific Congress in Athens. "The prevalence and nature of age discrimination practices in UK sport and recreation organisations".
• Bill, K (2004) Sport England, Skills Active and DCMS Conference on ‘21st Century Skills for Sport and Recreation’, Keynote Speaker - ‘The HE perspective – Graduates and Sport, London.

• Bill, K and Arnott, I (2005) ‘The role of Professional Bodies in Accreditation – Engagement with Higher Education’. LINK, No: 12, Higher Education Academy Network for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism.
• Martin, L & Bill, K (2005) Using PBL peer-assessment techniques with Sports Studies students. Link, 14, p18. Higher Education Academy Network for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism.
• Bill, K and Bowen-Jones, W (2004) ‘21st Century Skills for Sports Graduates’. LINK, No: 11, Higher Education Academy Network for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism,
• Bill, K (2003) SPRIG professional development award - an article published in SPRIG (2004) Bulletin on ‘Careers data on sports graduates (2001/02)
• Bill, K (2003) Sport Law on the Net. Legal Executive Journal.

• Bill, K. (2009) –HEA HLST Pedagogic Research and Development Grant Round 10 – Entrepreneurial Skills and Sport Enterprises. Match funding from Staffordshire Life Long Learning Network.
• West, J., Bill, K., and Martin, L. (2007) – HEA HLST Pedagogic Research and Development Grant Round 7 – Research Ethics Decision Making Processes.
• Bill, K. (2007) KTI Innovation and Development Grant, University of Worcester - Workplace Well-being in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce.
• Bill, K. (2006) Te3 (Technology Enhanced Funding) – Supporting Entrepreneurship’ Sports Enterprise E-learning module.
• Bill, K. (2005/6) - Mercia Institute of Enterprise – Teaching and Learning Event Award – Sports Enterprise Fest. 
• Bill, K. (2005) KTI Fellow - Knowledge Transfer Capability HEFCE funded.
• Martin, L,. West, J. & Bill, K. (2005) – HEA HLST Pedagogic Research and Development Grant Round 5 – Incorporating Problem Based Learning Strategies. 
• Bill, K. (2004-07) FDTL5 Learning and Teaching Innovation Project – Project Partner with Oxford Brookes University ‘embedding employability into the curriculum.’