The university's reputation for sport is a long-standing one. Led by Sir Raymond Priestley, the Antarctic explorer who became Vice-Chancellor in 1938, and his innovative Director of Sport A.D. Munrow, Birmingham’s place on the international stage of physical education was established. They pioneered the first undergraduate courses in Physical Education in 1946, developed their sports facilities – starting with the state-of-the-art gymnasium in 1939, and made participation in recreational sport compulsory for all new undergraduates from 1940 to 1968. Birmingham became the first UK university to offer a sports degree.