The Sport Management and Kinesiology programs at Brock University have developed a reputation as being among the best in the country. Now, that reputation has reached the international level.
In the recently released QS University World Rankings, Brock University was ranked in the Top 100 in the Sports Science category, which covers the programs and research of its Departments of Kinesiology and Sport Management.
The rankings are not broken down further than Brock being in the of the Top 51 to 100 of all schools around the world, ranking it alongside the University of Waterloo and Cornell, and ahead of Queen’s, which finished in the Top 101 to 120 class.
“The recognition as being ranked among the Top 100 world programs provides tangible evidence of this quality,” said Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus. “The faculty and staff of these programs deserve the credit for their outstanding research and teaching which has resulted in this recognition. The high quality of their teaching and the depth and breadth of the programs offered by the departments along with their ability to provide exceptional experiential learning and hands-on, laboratory-based education has also added to the reputational recognition that is evident in this ranking.”
The QS University World Rankings compare up to 550 institutions around the world in each category and rank them based on things such as academic reputation, employer reputation and research citations per paper.
“The QS rankings are a significant international exercise, and one to which the academic world pays attention,” said Brock Provost and Vice-President, Academic Lynn Wells. “Brock’s success in this year’s rankings is well-deserved recognition for all of the hard work that Dean Peter Tiidus and all faculty, staff and students in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences put every day into growing and developing our sport science programs. The rankings highlight this hard work and will work to attract new attention to the programs, which will in turn help bring more exceptional students and researchers to Brock.”
Tiidus said the outstanding reputation of the Kinesiology and Sport Management programs is also connected to the strong network of alumni, which includes national and international leaders in their respective fields.
“They provide future Brock graduates with role models and mentors to advance their career development,” he said. “The inclusion of Brock’s Sport Management and Kinesiology programs among the best in Canada and the world is a testament to the reputation these programs have built over the decades.”
Kinesiology and Sport Management are among five departments run by the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. The Faculty also operates the Departments of Health Sciences, Nursing, and Recreation and Leisure Studies, along with five specialty community service and research centres, including the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being, the Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, the Centre for Youth Sport and Physical Activity, the Centre for Sport Capacity, and the recently launched Brock Centre for Excellence in Inclusive and Adaptive Physical Activity.
That cross-section of programs and centres opens up a world of opportunities for students pursuing careers in sport science, administration, healthcare or recreation.
But Tiidus said Brock isn’t interested in resting on its laurels.
“We are continuing to work to improve the educational experiences of our graduate and undergraduate students,” he said. “This includes developing new programs that are specialized and market-driven, as well as enhancing our already notable reputation for an exceptional student experience.
“We will also continue to grow our ability to produce world-leading research and graduate student experiences by adding Canada Research Chair appointments and supporting faculty with enhanced research infrastructure.”