ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Industry insights

Body language

Les Mills™ Virtual group exercise classes are successfully integrating international students into the campus community at the University of Leeds


Balancing Life Survey
The University of Leeds has a large international student population, many of whom attend the Business School. However, its location on the outskirts of campus makes it more difficult for them to engage with facility-focused activities at the university’s on-campus gym – The Edge.

To identify the activity levels of staff and students, the Sport and Physical Activity department conducts an annual Balancing Life Survey, which looks at the areas of campus where there could be more opportunities for them to get involved.

Engaging international students, especially through activities that support their experience of British culture, was identified as a key area of focus. Similarly, the survey identified the need to build networks and increase the integration of students from different cultural backgrounds. The survey also revealed that there are thousands of students looking to learn new languages and seeking opportunities to incorporate language learning into real-life settings.

As a result of these findings, the Sport and Physical Activity department teamed up with the university’s International Office to undertake a pilot scheme aimed at leveraging group exercise classes at The Edge for international students.

Virtual Mandarin Classes
In partnership with Les Mills, the University of Leeds launched a timetable of Les Mills™ Virtual classes in Mandarin over Christmas 2017 and Easter 2018. With marketing and promotional support led by the International Office, the team was hopeful that Mandarin content could become a permanent fixture on the timetable.

The results of the first Mandarin virtual classes over Christmas yielded impressive results, attracting 155 participants across the two-week holiday.

“Naturally, we see a dip in group exercise over the Christmas period, so to get the volume of people we did was very impressive,” said James Buckley, Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing Manager at the University of Leeds.

This was replicated over Easter, and the results were even more positive with 244 participants. In fact, the numbers for virtual Mandarin content stood-up favourably against other content in English.

One of the most impressive parts of the programme was how well it highlighted the power of group exercise in reducing isolation and helping students to feel more integrated into The Edge community.

“It’s very common for international students to remain on campus out of term time. With this in mind, various departments work collaboratively to provide a programme of activity to reduce any feelings of isolation that they might have, and foster opportunities to integrate international students with UK students, during term time and holiday breaks.

“Implementation of these Les Mills group exercise classes was a perfect example of this working to full effect,” explains James.

“With more students taking part in Les Mills™ Virtual classes in Mandarin, we’ve seen the positive effect group exercise can have on integrating these classes into the language learning process, building new social groups and looking after well being.

“Feedback from participants clearly showed us what a great product the Les Mills classes are and the demand there is to showcase more of them. The student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”

Language Rollout
The university is now looking to add Les Mills™ Virtual programming in additional languages, expanding the classes to other on-campus venues. This year will also see a new Innovation Centre being opened at the university, offering a virtual exercise studio.

“With the success of the virtual Mandarin programming, the team is looking to expand the offering to other languages. Due to the nature of the product, one of its great strengths is that we can take the virtual offering into residences or into the International Office itself,” added Buckley.

Working as an extension of the team, Les Mills provided invaluable insight into how to incorporate the programming on campus.

Buckley explains: “We wanted to be confident in the quality of the product, and we got that with Les Mills. We could really lean on the team for access to information and this was absolutely critical in helping us make the case for the trial.

“Les Mills was hugely supportive in helping us achieve these results. Quality content coupled with a truly individual approach is what sets them apart. It’s not a pre-set package. It was bespoke.”

The University of Leeds now boasts over 85 per cent occupancy rate across 245 classes per week at The Edge.

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: Myrtha Wellness
Myrtha Pools was founded in 1961 in Italy by the engineer Giorgio Colletto and through research and development has become leader in the swimming pool industry and has created an international brand.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The Carré Saint-Laurent project is under construction
"A vast yet understated investment in cultural institutions and tourist infrastructure is taking place without lavish budgets, starchitects or international fanfare"

The amazing projects transforming Canada’s second city

Lighting choices create the required atmosphere at Canopy by Hilton in Washington, DC
"Millennials are investing more in experiences versus physical things"

How millennial travellers are transforming hotel design

The Sea Glass Carousel in Battery Park, Manhattan, elevates the traditional carousel into a digitally-enhanced aquatic journey
Claire Weisz
"I prefer to be labelled a feminist architect than a female architect. I’d love to work with more women"

The WXY co-founder and urbanist with a passion for improving our public spaces

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The Presidio Parklands project will link an existing park with the San Francisco Bay, with the park covering a major roadway
James Corner
"Landscape is something personally experienced, almost subconsciously"

Landscape architects are the unsung heroes shaping our public realm, says the High Line designer

Zaha Hadid Architects’ Hamburg River Promenade scheme
"Funding woes and murky timelines are common problems. It can be easier to make a difference one small project at a time"

From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates

The garden was filled with a maze of dark brick archways and weeping willows hung with bells
Martha Schwartz
"No one is taking the issue of climate change seriously. Some bad things will have to happen before there is a change"

The outspoken landscape architect on climate change, bagels and being controversial

features
"I want to demonstrate that creativity is our true capital as humans "

Rather than feeling fearful and helpless about the future, we must design a way out of the environmental problems we have created, argues the innovative Dutch designer, artist and inventor Daan Roosegaarde

Alison Brooks
Alison Brooks
"The profession is changing"

We need to help the public understand that architects are on their side, argues The Smile designer

The exterior is made from a series of interlocking disks
Jean Nouvel Architect
"It has spaces inside that exist nowhere else"

On the National Museum of Qatar

cladkit product news
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
cladkit product news
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo