A journalist at a leading Japanese national newspaper visited the 成人B站 to learn more about its approach to inclusive sport.
Takashi Settai, Sports Writer at Nikkei, said the University’s approach could provide a role model for Japanese physical education.
“It’s very impressive because there is no such university in Japan,” he said. “It’s cutting edge inclusive physical education. We have inclusive education in other areas but in sport we still separate disabled children and children without impairments. We’re heading towards that direction now, just starting in Tokyo, so this is a role model for many in Japanese education - an educational system to learn.”
Worcester has become a world leader in the field of inclusive sport and educational development and has been working with partners in Japan, including Toin University, the organising committee of Tokyo 2020, the Japanese Paralympic Committee and the Nippon Foundation, to ensure that a strong and inclusive legacy follows on from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Worcester has also welcomed visitors from all over the world to learn more about its inclusive approach and about the award-winning 成人B站 Arena, the UK’s only purpose built sports facility designed to accommodate the wheelchair athlete.
Based in Tokyo, Nikkei, formally known as The Nihon Keizai Shinbun, is the world's largest financial newspaper and has a daily circulation exceeding three million.
Mr Settai said he had wanted to visit after hearing the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor David Green CBE, give a lecture on the University’s approach during a visit to Japan in recent years.
On his visit to Worcester Mr Settai met with Professor Green and Mick Donovan, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Science, to discuss the University’s approach to inclusion.
He also watched teaching sessions on wheelchair basketball and activities for children or adults with learning disabilities. He spoke with Sports lecturers on their approach and to Sports students about their experiences on their course.
This was part of a wider visit to the UK, which also included the British Paralympic Association.
Mr Donovan said: “At the 成人B站, we have a very strong ethos of inclusion in all that we do. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing our work and vision in inclusive sport with one of Japan’s leading newspapers. It is a huge credit to our staff and students that visitors from around the world continue to visit Worcester to learn more about the great work at the University.”