Holistic development : a theme practised at University level? : academic development versus an active lifestyle

Abstract

The popularity of sports and physical activity is on the increase. Health related fitness and sports for leisure have rapidly grown throughout the last decade. The study at hand seeks to determine the effect of academic work and personal development on the student's active lifestyle. The level of activity, sport participation and other physically demanding activities might be challenged by the need for academic growth and development Is this a fact or hypothesis? Is the phenomenon of a holistic development approach practised within the highest educational institution on the island? 600 questionnaires distributed to university students in their first and last year of their course, aim at gathering data regarding the students past, present and future active participation plans. Interviews were held with the director of the Institute of Sport, Sports Activity co-ordinator at Junior College, current Public Relations official of the Malta University Sports Club and ex-vice president of the M.U.S.C. A quantitative research was carried out, however other research methods of a qualitative nature namely interviews were conducted so as to make a comparative exercise in the concluding part of the work. Findings in this research show that students at University do acknowledge the importance of being physical active during their studies yet there is a relevant number of students who are physically inactive. Other findings show that a number of students have never used University's sports facilities while others do not even know about the existence of such facilities. It is indicated that students coming from the private schools are those who are mostly physically inactive whilst students tend to become physically inactive when they start University.