All the students who successfully completed the courses in the Foundations of Coaching, Exercise and Fitness and Elementary Pool Life Saving were awarded their certificates during a presentation ceremony which took place recently at the Cottonera Sports Complex. These courses were organised throughout the year 2005 by the Institute for PE and Sport in collaboration with the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport.

The participants were addressed by Franco Azzopardi, chairman KMS and Michael Aquilina, director IPES in the presence of Joe Cassar, CEO KMS, and the courses co-ordinators and lecturers.

Mr Azzopardi welcomed and congratulated all the successful candidates and stressed the importance of these professional development courses for the improvement in the level of coaching and instruction.

He pointed out that these courses and others like the Diploma in Sports and Leisure currently being offered, together with other courses that are being planned are an excellent preparation for anyone who intends to take up or is already involved in the areas of sports, leisure and fitness.

Mr. Azzopardi elaborated on the importance of the link between KMS and the Institute in the preparation of all sport professionals in preparation for the registration of coaches in line with the sports law.

Mr. Aquilina thanked KMS for the support given to the Institute to be able to run such courses and also pointed out that other similar courses are being discussed and will hopefully be launched in the near future.

Mr. Aquilina described this partnership as a very huge step towards a higher quality of sports education in Malta.

He stressed the importance that coaches and instructors keep abreast with the latest knowledge and research in sports pedagogy and science amongst other areas, and these courses are an excellent way to achieve this aim.

Mr. Aquilina thanked the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment and said he is very pleased that in February 2006 the Foundations in the Coaching Course will be offered for the third consecutive time. Applications and details are already available at the Admissions Office at the University.

Following the great interest shown by the number of applicants for the Exercise and Fitness course and the Pool Lifeguard, these courses will be offered once again in 2006 and will be followed by the relevant Advanced Courses for the successful applicants of the first course.