Sports therapy lecturer — Emily Davies

As a sports therapy lecturer, Emily is able to pass her skills and knowledge on to the next generation of sports therapists. Find out more about her role and how she hopes to further develop her career

What degree did you study?

I graduated from Bournemouth University in 2020 as a sports therapist.

How did you get your job?

My current job is as a part-time sports therapy lecturer at Bournemouth University, which I obtained through my lecturer shortly after my finishing my studies.

What's a typical working day like?

I am the unit lead for one of the first year modules - Early careers professionalism. A typical working day includes researching relevant information and preparing lecture slides ready for me to present on a weekly basis. I also reply to numerous emails from both colleagues and students, answering any questions they may have.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I most enjoy running lectures because I am able to share my passion for this unit with the future generation of sports therapists.

What are the challenges?

The role of a lecturer does come with challenges, such as ensuring that the information I provide is fully understood by my students. This is particularly relevant during COVID-19 due to the difficulties that online platforms present.

Begin networking and building your contacts as soon as possible via platforms such as LinkedIn

In what way is your degree relevant?

My degree was incredibly relevant to my current job as this is the subject that I teach. The experiences I gained throughout my degree developed my knowledge and skillset within sports therapy, which I am now able to share with my students.

I was very lucky to have the opportunity to lecture so soon after graduating as I have gained valuable communication and leadership skills.

Throughout my university career, I secured a placement with Bournemouth Rugby Club. This opportunity allowed me to gain real-life experience, while building excellent contacts. Due to the intense physical nature of the game, I managed and treated a range of injuries from fractures and ligament sprains to concussion, where I was able to put the theory I had learned into practice.

What are your career ambitions?

I would like to further my learning by completing a Masters in physiotherapy because my ambition is to work with a variety of patients with varying conditions in a hospital environment.

Working in elite sport would be an amazing opportunity and something I would love to work towards. Having already spent time working with a national-level rugby team, my skills and knowledge have massively developed. I hope to use this experience to work my way towards securing a position for a professional rugby team.

What advice can you give to others wanting to get into this job?

• Begin networking and building your contacts as soon as possible via platforms such as LinkedIn - often, it's who you know, not what you know.
• Enjoy the time you spend at university and make use of any opportunities that come your way. Gaining experience is incredibly valuable and looks great on a CV.

Find out more

• Read about the role of a sports therapist.
• Take a look at the leisure, sport and tourism sector.