It’s one of the biggest stories in the 25 year history of the AIPP: one of Australia’s most innovative universities, UniSA has officially joined forces with Australian International Pedal Prix Inc.  This is yet another huge step for the sport, with wide recognition growing at a rapid rate – the union recently drew support from South Australian Premier Mike Rann. It now means that we can look forward to cranking the sport into the stratosphere, with AIPP Inc and UniSA shifting the Series into overdrive.

 

“We couldn’t be happier with this arrangement,” AIPP Chairman Andrew McLachlan said of the recently announced union. “There is a great congruence, a real meeting of ideals, between the AIPP and UniSA. Both bodies are keenly focused on education and hands-on learning, whether it be in health, technology or engineering – and both are also about striving for excellence, embracing challenges and discovering new methods of practice.”

 

Of course, The University of South Australia (UniSA) is one of Australia’s most modern and progressive education and research institutions. Students are actively engaged in their learning experience and are provided with opportunities for experiential learning in industry, the professions and community settings. The University’s links between teaching and research permeate much of what it does and the way it does it.  Students develop a mindset of enquiry; they learn how to think as well as to do and have professional experience on their side.  When they graduate, they are prepared to step successfully into professional employment.  This approach to education is what UniSA calls ‘Experience. The Difference.’

 

OK, take note, because there are some new names to remember:

·         For the next three seasons, the Series will be known as the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series

·         Round One will be known as the UniSA HPV Challenge

·         Round Two will be named the UniSA HPV Endurance

·         At the end of the Season, the best performed team in each Category will be presented with the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Award.

 

Another fantastic initiative incorporates experiential learning opportunities for students of UniSA. Here, UniSA students will have the chance to be actively engaged with the staging of the Australian HPV Super Series – a unique and very rich experience. This will be aimed to highlight the ‘experiential learning’ environment of UniSA and may include, for example, students in the disciplines of physiotherapy, human movement nutrition, marketing, event management, journalism and media, public relations and engineering.

 

It’s also possible that we might even see UniSA enter an Open Category team as early as the UniSA HPV Endurance this year!

 

So, it’s Go! Go! Go! from this point forward. With such a large number of school students participating in the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series, we here at the AIPP are thrilled to have such a centre for excellence join us on our HPV adventure. Hopefully, with UniSA, we can help launch a great future for you!

 

And one more thought: can you believe it’s less than six weeks to the nine hour UniSA HPV Endurance? Get busy!