– Like it or not!

COMING from a family of sports personalities no doubt makes it easier for Nicholas Fraser to excel in the field; even now preparing to assist the University of the West Indies (UWI) with their online Bachelor Degree programmes.

Nicholas, born to David and Stephanie Fraser, who both held prominent posts in the world of sports, has been employed with the Ministry of Education over the past 11 years and is now the head of the Physical Education Department in the Unit of Allied Arts.
He has been heading the Unit’s intervention in terms of teacher training in physical education, as well as coordinating national events for the ministry that has to do with physical education in sport.

This September, UWI is implementing for the first time, three bachelor’s programmes in sports science, coaching, and leadership and management. These will be implemented on a fulltime basis online.

“I was assisting them with developing the course materials etc. before they employed me. Sports is quite a practical area so it is very difficult to have this done in an online environment,” Fraser expressed during a Zoom interview with the Pepperpot Magazine.
“This is the first time that I will be doing something like this. I really do think that online courses in the setting of COVID-19; that this is the future, like it or not,” he said.

The Guyanese sports pioneer believes that online learning is something that should be embraced more fully. “We have a lot of places that provide higher education and these are skills that I think the lecturers should want to have. I am excited to learn alongside my students,” he mentioned.
But his sport background will certainly help them deal with the challenges that may come along. “Sport is a very unique career path. It’s something I chose even before I left school. Throughout school, I was involved heavily in sports and I got the opportunity to travel quite a lot. That was the experience that got me hooked in the realm of sports.”

Nicholas ensured he got himself qualified, after leaving the prestigious Bishop’s High before pressing on to Cuba to complete a five-year programme in physical education and sport.

Upon returning, he worked with the National Sports Commission as the assistant director and then moved on to the National Center for Education and Resource Development (NCERD).

Nicholas was also able to go to Australia to pursue a Masters Degree in Sports Management for two years. “It has been quite a journey,” he said.
Speaking about the new course that he will be undertaking with UWI, Nicholas said: “I do think that we have a bit of persons who work within the realm of sports who need to place more importance on courses like these. We tend to believe that if you’re an athlete, you will be a good coach automatically. But there are many things that you must learn that you should know before you become a coach.”

In getting a job as someone who is in charge of a sports facility, or as a coach, Nicholas believes that you should place emphasis on training and development.