About the Project
I ddarllen yr hysbyseb yn y Gymraeg, ewch i: http://kess2.ac.uk/cy/aum30001/
The successful MPhil student will evaluate the promotion strategy, delivery and short term impact of a public, one-day event for older adults. The event aims to improve participants’ health behaviours by increasing awareness of their own health status, physical ability and current level of physical activity.
The previous three years has seen the delivery of a one-day public event organised jointly between Age Cymru Ceredigion and Aberystwyth University, in Aberystwyth. The event, titled ‘Functional Fitness and Health MOT’, has consistently attracted over 80 older adults to be assessed on their functional ability, such as mobility, strength, and balance. Feedback collected from participants during the event suggests a positive experience of the day.
Despite the success of the day itself at Aberystwyth University, it is unknown whether the event:
• Has appealed mostly by people of particular level of engagement with their own health already, in particular socio-demographic background, and attitudes towards physical activity.
• Can be run outside the University setting, so that Age Cymru can expand Age Cymru Ceredgion’s work across Wales.
• Causes participants to act on any of the feedback provided and raises awareness of healthy behaviours.
The MPhil student will address each issue via the following work packages:
1. Promotion strategy: find out whether there are sections of the older population who are not attending the one-day events, but who would benefit.
The student will characterise the participants in terms of their health literacy (including physical literacy), and their health and well-being status, socio-demographic background and attitudes toward exercise. Questionnaires will be provided to both participants and non-participants, prior to the event that will take place in 2018.
2. Delivery: evaluate whether Age Cymru volunteers can provide the assessments.
Participants will be assessed by volunteers, students and professionals. Inter-rater reliability will be determined to assess the feasibility of running the event with Age Cymru volunteers alone without impact on the quality of the feedback provided to participants.
3. Short term impact: find out what changes in health-related behaviours participants undertake as a result of attending the one-day event.
The level of physical activity will be determined during the event in 2018. In addition, 6 weeks following the event, the MPhil student will administer questionnaires to participants to quantify the uptake to specific services offered by Age Cymru (including LIFT, Nordic walking and other services from Age Cymru) and their current level of physical activity and health literacy.
The successful candidate will need to be resident in the convergence area on registration, and must have the right to work in the region on qualification. The successful applicant should have a minimum of a 1st or good 2:1 in a relevant degree, and be available to take up the studentship by 1st October 2017. The project is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the European Union’s Convergence programme administered by the Welsh Government. KESS II PhD scholarships are collaborative awards with external partners. (Applicants need to only apply, they do not need to search for partners).
To apply, please submit the following to the Postgraduate Admissions Office (address below) by 2nd August 2017
1. A completed Research Programme Application Form, two references. Application and reference forms may be downloaded from http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/
2. A completed KESS II Participant proposal form (put the reference number AUM30001 in the top right hand box of the application form) and an up-to-date CV. KESS II application forms are available to download at the link below.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/staff-students/knowledge-economy-skills-scholarships/currentscholarshipvacanciesandapplicationforms/
3. An Mphil proposal of up to 500 words where you expand on your experience and interests and describe why you are a good candidate for this research studentship. Please refer to the Project Description.
To view full details of this scholarship please visit: http://kess2.ac.uk/aum30001/
Informal enquiries should be made to Dr Marco Arkesteijn at [Email Address Removed] or 01970 628559
Address for applications:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Recruitment & Admissions
Student Welcome Centre
Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth
SY23 3FB
Quote Reference AUM30001
Closing date for applications 2nd August 2017
Funding Notes
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.
Due to ESF funding, eligibility restrictions apply to this scholarship. To be eligible, the successful candidate will need to be resident in the Convergence Area of Wales on University registration, and must have the right to work in the region on qualification.
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