The University of Guyana will be adding a brand new course to its range of courses from the start of the 2024 academic year: the STAPS (Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives) degree, with a specific major focusing on "Education and Motricity". This initiative responds to growing demand in the field of physical education and sport, offering students training dedicated to the teaching of physical, sporting and expressive activities in a variety of educational contexts.
Versatile training
The new STAPS degree is distinguished by its multi-purpose orientation, preparing students for immediate careers while opening up prospects for advanced study. Graduates will be able to go on to study for a Masters in Teaching, Education and Training (MEEF) or a STAPS Masters, considerably broadening their professional horizons.
Thanks to the support of the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane and the city of Cayenne, facilities located less than 1 km from the Université de Guyane will be made available to undergraduate students. This proximity will facilitate access to the facilities required for their training.
Training needed to meet the region's needs
Initial forecasts anticipate an influx of around forty students for the first year (L1) of this course, due to the growing demand for STAPS studies in general. For subsequent years, the number of students is estimated at 30 for Licence 2 (L2) and 28 for Licence 3 (L3).
The creation of this STAPS degree is also a significant opportunity for young people in the region to pursue higher education without having to travel to Guadeloupe (1600 km) or France (7500 km). Between 2018 and 2023, 252 final-year students in French Guiana chose this route, according to data from Parcours sup Guyane.
The STAPS degree will provide essential skills to meet the needs of the Académie in terms of teaching physical education and sport (EPS). Currently, there are almost 80 vacancies for PE teachers in the Académie, which is hampering the teaching of this discipline in collèges and lycées. The bachelor's degree offers an opportunity to fill these gaps by training qualified professionals, thereby helping to strengthen education in the region.
The opening of the STAPS degree at the University of Guyana therefore represents a significant step towards strengthening physical education and sport in the region, offering educational and professional opportunities to students while contributing to local development.
