PhD- A study to understand the significance of volunteers in golf and their impact on culture change within clubs, England Golf and wider golf governance.

PhD- A study to understand the significance of volunteers in golf and their impact on culture change within clubs, England Golf and wider golf governance.

Summary

This PhD will be a three-year study starting in January 2018 fully funded scholarship and inclusive of tuition fees, based at Manchester Metropolitan University in partnership with England Golf. The successful candidate will also receive an annual stipend of £14,553 The project will be largely a qualitative ethnographic study examining culture, governance and diversity in the game. There may be some need to consider background secondary quantitative data. The project is based in Manchester but with scope for national travel and some work at Woodhall Spa the home of England Golf. 

Aims and objectives

The full focus of the PhD is still to be developed, but at this stage proposed research questions, aims and objectives of the study are as follows:

Research questions

1. How can England Golf develop and better understand community golf club volunteers to improve governance, culture and diversity in the community game?
2. What impact does existing the England Golf education programme have on volunteer culture and growing the game of golf across England?
3. What new and innovative ways of working with volunteers can be developed to grow involvement in the game of golf and improve governance of the game?

Aims

• To understand the impact that volunteers have in delivering the strategic outcomes for golf as an NGB in England;
• To understand what support mechanisms England Golf can provide in recognising, developing and valuing their volunteer workforce;
• To evaluate the impact and effectiveness of existing education, training and support for all volunteers in golf in England

Objectives

• To identify and map the current impact of core grass roots, club, county and national volunteers across all tiers of the game on the strategic aims of England Golf;
• To consider how better to support ‘episodic’ volunteers (events, tournaments, one-off club activity, occasional school) and integrate them into wider volunteer contributions towards the game of golf;
• To improve diversity of volunteer workforce through the development of an evidence-base for future decision making;
• To develop a model of volunteer-led culture change through education and NGB intervention to contribute towards the 2017-2021 strategy vision for English golf;
• To develop evidence and best practice to approach global world stakeholders regarding wider funding and collaboration (UK, and home nations, R&A, international golf associations). 

It is assumed that the study will have a core qualitative, ethnographic focus examining club culture, diversity and volunteer responses to training, support and education in England. But, the full nature of the methodology is to be determined. We are also interested in seeking ideas, innovative research approaches and theoretical backgrounds to explore this complex and rapidly changing area of policy and practice. 

Specific requirements of the project

Candidates should have a Masters degree (MSc, MA, MRes) or 2:1 and ideally a 1st in a related sport or wider social sciences subject (sociology, anthropology, geography, politics, policy administration/social policy). It may be that you also have background understanding in sport policy, volunteering, community sport. Academic backgrounds in sport development, management and policy/governance/volunteer culture and associated past research project undertakings in such fields are welcomed. Experience in undertaking and managing research projects is essential. Ability to independently undertake research fieldwork with volunteers, clubs and national governing bodies of sport will be considered critical. Likewise strong understanding of qualitative methods of analysis are also essential. Wider training in quantitative or mixed methodologies as required will be provided if necessary as part of year 1 of the PhD.

The project would also benefit an individual with wider understanding of the current policy and practice context in England and the challenges facing the volunteer sector.

Student eligibility

This scholarship is open to UK and EU applicants