Daniel Presland

“What appealed to me most about the Bachelor of Sport, Heath and Physical Education (BSportHPE) was the wide range of career opportunities it could lead to, including PE teaching, coaching, personal training, and working within sporting organisations. I’ve always been passionate about sport and PE, and during high school I developed a strong interest in business studies. I didn’t want to waste that interest and knowledge, so my conjoint degree allowed me to combine both passions into one pathway.

“The two degrees complement each other extremely well. The BSportHPE develops leadership, coaching, communication, and critical thinking skills, while the Commerce component provides knowledge around management, marketing, organisations and leadership.

“Combining sport and business has also given me the opportunity to work across schools, sports clubs, and regional or national sporting organisations while applying knowledge from both programmes. Together, they prepare me well for careers within sports organisations and leadership roles.

“Being a conjoint student also feels unique and rewarding because of the extra challenge involved. Although it adds another year and a half, I have never regretted my choice. The conjoint pushed me academically and personally, and I would highly recommend it to students with similar interests. 

“Some of my favourite papers have been SPORT 302 (Sport Leadership) and EDUCSW 302 (Service Learning Placement). SPORT 302 focused heavily on leadership and coaching. We observed and provided feedback to Stage 2 BSportHPE students who were running PE classes, which developed my leadership, communication and critical thinking skills. EDUCSW 302 gave me the opportunity to apply everything I had learned during a 60-hour internship placement with the Blues and Blues Charitable Trust. During the placement, I contributed to the Blues Youth Leadership Programme, which impacted more than 450 students from over 50 schools across the North Island. This experience strengthened my passion for sports leadership, coordination and working within sporting organisations, while teaching me the importance of professionalism, preparation and people-focused leadership. 

“As a BSportHPE student, having access to the Hiwa Recreation Centre was another huge benefit. The facility is world-class, with gyms, courts, pools, tracks, and recovery facilities all in one space. It created a great environment for both learning and training. I was also involved in the circuit training group at Hiwa, which I really enjoyed. It allowed me to challenge myself physically while making the most of the facilities available to students. 

“One of the best parts of student life at Auckland is the flexibility and independence. You can create your own schedule, study in spaces that suit you and still have time for personal and social activities. I’ve also found it really important to build strong friendships. There were only six students completing this conjoint in my year, so we all became very close and supported each other. The people you meet during your degree become a major part of the experience, and I know I’ll continue keeping in touch with many of them after graduation. 

“Outside university, I’ve had several part-time roles, with my favourite being Head of Junior Coaching at Parnell Cricket Club. Having played there most of my life, I wanted to give back to the club that had supported me for so many years. I loved helping develop players’ skills, confidence, and work ethic, while also improving my own communication and leadership abilities. The role reinforced my passion for sports coaching, coordination and leadership. 

“I have also been fortunate enough to land a full-time role as a Sports Coordinator at ACG Parnell College in Auckland. In this role, I will be responsible for supporting the delivery and coordination of the school’s sports programme, including organising fixtures and events, assisting with team logistics, and working closely with students and staff to promote participation and engagement in sport. This opportunity aligns strongly with my long-term interests in developing sport pathways and contributing to positive sporting experiences for young people, and I am excited to be taking my first step into this space in a professional capacity.

“The biggest learning I will take away from the BSportHPE is the importance of continually evaluating sport, health, and education systems through a critical lens. The degree encouraged us not just to accept systems as they are, but to think about how they can be improved to create better outcomes for people and communities.”