The UKSI and Loughborough University strengthen ties
The UK Sports Institute (UKSI) and Loughborough University have further strengthened their close working relationship, with the UKSI Board among the first to trial new, immersive sports technology at the University this week.
The two organisations signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2023, pledging to collaborate in a broad range of areas and projects that ultimately seek to enhance Great Britain’s future Paralympic performance ambitions.
One of the key areas of the MoU was to share knowledge, resources and expertise and this week, members of the UKSI Board and senior leadership team have visited Loughborough University’s innovative DigiLabs.
Professor Gary Burnett showcased the immersive technologies transforming teaching and research and helping to foster conversation on the potential impact immersive technology can have in sport.
The session offered a hands-on opportunity to explore VR headsets, hologram displays, and cutting-edge software in action. There was also a chance to see the human-sized hologram box, displaying sports-related 3D content, and step into a virtual sports stadium as an avatar, sparking discussion and consideration around the opportunities and limitations of stadium experiences.
The visit was followed by the UKSI’s quarterly Board meeting, which took place at Loughborough’s Elite Athlete Centre.
UK Sports Institute CEO Matt Archibald said: “We started 2025 with a visit for our entire Senior Leadership Team to Loughborough University, so I’m delighted that our Board was able to join us this time around as we continue to explore future partnership opportunities and collaborations.
“We have huge respect for our counterparts at Loughborough University and we look forward to working together on a range of exciting projects that will hopefully benefit Paralympic and Olympic sports and athletes for years to come.”
There are currently three UKSI-supported PhD students at Loughborough University researching different aspects of Para sport – one match-funded and two others receiving in-kind contributions, including advisory input to support co-production of research questions and real-life sporting applications.
Their research focuses on mental health, wheelchair racing technologies, and the physiology of athletes with cerebral palsy.
Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport and Director of Sporting Excellence and Opportunities within SSEHS at Loughborough University said: “Working with UKSI colleagues allows our students to appreciate the sporting ecosystem and the values of high-performance sport, helping to shape their future careers.
“We are grateful for the support and collaboration of our UKSI colleagues in enhancing our research at Loughborough and are looking forward to advancing this work in autumn.”
Find out more about Loughborough University.