BU Research Blog

Ever since BU has built relationships with German Sport University Cologne – arguably, the leading global sport university – in 2012 it has been an evolving partnership in terms of student exchange, teaching and research collaboration as well as other academic and industry-oriented work.

Recently, lead contact Dr Tim Breitbarth’s visit has further maintained and widened this link. Mainly, he taught on international sports marketing and management Masters courses; discussed potential future collaborative teaching formats (such as the already co-organized international student management games); met with current BU exchange students in Cologne; and outlined a joint paper on ‘sponsorships as B2B relationships’ based on empirical data from a student dissertation; and defined the direction for a submission to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowship Programme.

Why Erasmus? Why Europe?

There is much going for strategically developing Erasmus links, especially if departments seek to extent relationships with European partners beyond student exchange only (arguably, both the core and a starting point). Firstly, it steers EU money towards BU (for both students and staff). Secondly, travel is usually much cheaper than to overseas destinations, so more interaction is likely (and: likely to be funded). Thirdly, there are lots of EU research funding opportunities that require/encourage collaboration within Europe. Fourthly, there is much intercultural learning available for students (and staff). Also, after all, 60% of UK trade is with Europe.

For a variety activities reported on this partnership see the following links on the BU Research Blog and the Faculty of Management Blog (may be search for ‘Cologne’):

http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/author/tbreitbarth/

https://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/tourism/category/sport-management/