Wolverhampton Intellectual Repository and E-Theses

Recent Submissions

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    Relationship of physical fitness parameters and aesthetic competence in Chinese dance: a pilot study
    (SAGE, 2025-10-22) Ngo, Jake; Cloak, Ross; Wong, Del P.; Wyon, Matthew; Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, University of Wolverhampton; Dance Science Laboratory, School of Dance, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
    Introduction: Dance is a widely popular physical art form, with over 500,000 dancers spanning six continents. While dance demands various physical capabilities, there is currently no comprehensive data on the relationship between physical fitness and aesthetic competence in the Chinese dance style. This pilot study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical fitness parameters and aesthetic competence in Chinese dance among pre-professional dancers, addressing a gap in genre-specific research. Methods: Twenty-four dance students (21 female, 3 male) from a vocational dance conservatoire participated. Physical fitness was assessed through tests of flexibility, lower body power, upper and lower body strength, balance, endurance, and aerobic capacity. Aesthetic competence was evaluated by two experienced judges using a standardized tool with seven criteria. Results: Male dancers were taller, heavier, and outperformed female dancers in plank hold time, jump height, 6RM bench press, 6RM squat, and aerobic capacity, but had a smaller hip abduction angle. No significant sex differences were found in the Y-balance test or total aesthetic scores. For female dancers (n = 21), backward stepwise regression identified anterior plank hold time, 6RM bench press load, and right posteromedial Y-balance reach as significant predictors of aesthetic competence, explaining 50% of the variance (F(3,17) = 4.12, P < .05, R2 = .50). ANOVA showed no significant differences in aesthetic scores across three randomized video presentations (F(2,46) = 0.82, P = .44), with moderate inter-rater reliability (r = 0.54-0.68). Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of specific physical fitness parameters, including core endurance, upper body strength, and dynamic balance, as key contributors to aesthetic competence in pre-professional Chinese dancers. These insights provide valuable direction for training strategies aimed at enhancing performance for male and female dancers.
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    Written submission to the Business & Trade Committee Inquiry into the UK Small Business Strategy (2025) (SBS0059)
    (UK Parliament, 2025-11-12) Rahimi, Roya; Mahmood, Samia; Pillai, Prashant; PERVEZ, Zeeshan; University of Wolverhampton
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    Lawrence of Arabia: the sublime asesthetics of imperialism
    (Taylor & Francis, 2025-12-31) Pheasant-Kelly, Frances; University of Wolverhampton
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    Engineering across borders: barriers to transnational teaching and research collaboration
    (CITC, 2025-12-31) Umeokafor, Nnedinma; Daniel, Emmanuel Itodo; Yousef, Ahmed Mohamed Fahmy; University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton
    Transnational academic collaboration in teaching and research is a cornerstone of knowledge exchange and transfer in higher education. The widespread adoption of digital technologies globally (accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic), along with financial constraints faced by universities, a growing need for transnational academic collaborations, and shifts in government policies, have brought transnational academic collaborations to the forefront of both governmental and university agendas in the United Kingdom. While the barriers and drivers are broadly covered in the literature and reasonably understood, variations in national, disciplinary, regulatory, and institutional contexts mean that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible. Consequently, the barriers to transnational academic collaboration between institutions and across disciplines (such as occupational safety, health, and wellbeing (OSHW) in engineering) between the UK and Egypt remain poorly understood. Using document analysis and group panel discussions with Egyptian industry practitioners, academics and students in Egypt, the reported study explores the barriers to transnational research and teaching collaboration in OSHW in Engineering. The major barriers include cultural and policy differences, curriculum design, lack of resources and differences in interest and attitude between individual and institutions. A significant finding is the attraction to universities in fellow Arab countries due to cultural affinity, which has a causal inference with attitudes and interests. Co-creation of culture curriculum to ensure contextual content is recommended. Also, focusing on shared areas of interest and national country priorities of the international partner are recommended.
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    The theoretical basis for the house of multisport principles
    (Unpublished, 2025-11-05) Duncan, Michael; Smith , Rus; Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton