NEWS
Dear Dual Career Friends and Colleagues,
The best of 2025 may revitalize our efforts in support of the dual career of the sportspersons!
International Collaborations
During this year, fruitful partnerships with the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the International Military Sports Council (CISM), and Sport 4 Impact have been consolidated through the participation in important events. EAS attended the EU Sport Forum 2025 in Krakow, Poland, the 2025 EPAS Council of Europe Annual Meeting of the Governing Board and Consultative Committee in Strasbourg (France), the European Parliament consultations for the EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model and the implementation of the ERASMUS+ Programme for 2028-2034 in Brussels (Belgium). During the 2025 EAS Annual Conference in Riga (Latvia), a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) was signed. Finally, EAS has been recognized as an official partner of the European Week of Sport (EWoS).
Participation in International Conferences
Oral presentations and distribution of the projects’ flyers are deemed crucial to disseminate the aims and progresses of European Dual Career to scholars and policy makers. In addition to its 2025 Annual Conference (University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia), EAS was invited to contribute to the conference of the ERASMUS+Sport SAMEurope project (INSA Lyon, France), the Italian Scientific Society of Movement and Sports (SISMES, Parma, Italy), the Polish University Sport Conference (Warsaw, Poland), and the First International Symposium on Mentoring for High-Performance Student-Athletes (Universidade da Coruña, Spain). Finally, the EAS President, Laura Capranica, received a Recognition Plaque from the Brazilian Association of Dual Career for the EAS commitment to the advancement of dual career at international level.
Virtual EAS Cafè
In 2025, EAS organized five successful virtual cafes with experts and testimonials related to “From talent identification to talent support”, “Sport Innovation: Promoting employability of student-athletes and sport professionals”, “Dual Career Mentors and Mentees getting ready for the next academic year”, “Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the #BeActive programme and the 2025 European Week of Sport (EWoS) ”, “XXI century skills as a bridge between sport and employability”. Other interesting topics will be scheduled in spring, summer, fall, and winter 2026.
Finalized EU-funded ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership
DC Mentor (101132309), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by Sports Tech Consulting Education Tourism Organization Trade Limited Company (Turkeye) aimed to Advancing Athlete Employability through Career Mentorship and Education. The project designed “Life and Future Skills Training Modules”, “Life and Future Skills Curriculum for Elite Athletes”, the “Self-Assessment Toolkit”, and the “Athlete Career Mentorship Platform”. Further information is available at https://dcmentor.eu
Smart Start for DC (101133555), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by Sportsko Uciliste PESG (Croatia) aimed to empower young athletes with XXI century transferable skills. The project developed an online platform for youth athletes and educators to support a balanced sport with education commitment. The platform offers interactive MOOC courses, tools for identifying personal strengths, and engaging, gamified content tailored to young athletes. The platform and project resources are available at ss4dc.eu and more information is accessible by following the project Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556732943039, and the YouTube videos at https://www.youtube.com/@smartstartfordc
TALENT (101090147), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by the Uciliste Centar Izvrsnosti Splitsko-Dalmatinske Zupanije Ustanova Za Obrazovanje Odraslih (Croatia) developed a cloud-based education for creative sport talents, a New Methodology Handbook in Talent Detection in Sport, and Practical Recommendations Published for Coaches, Parents, Teachers, Sports Clubs and Decision Makers. The findings of the research have been published in scientific journals. The 6-hour TALENT Training Course is designed specifically for schoolteachers to help them recognising and supporting talented kids. Teaching materials are available on the E-STOP platform at https://talent-edu.eu.
Ongoing EU-funded ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership
DiscoverU (101134052), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by EUSA (Slovenia) aims to enhance university sport and qualifications of elite athletes for preparing them to the labour market. The project organized Power up Workshops for Elite Athletes, events and webinars and entered its third year. Further information is available at https://discoveru.eusa.eu
Find Me (101134043), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by the University of Nis aims to structure an evidence-based European user-friendly platform specifically tailored for dual career at university level. The findings of the research have been published in scientific journals. Entering its third year, in January 2026 European universities will be invited to provide relevant information to populate the Find Me platform. Further information will be available at https://findmeproject.eu.
FOCUS: Dual Career Co-Creation (101243801), the Collaborative Partnership coordinated by the NYSA SWEDEN AB aims to establish an innovative and scalable Dual Career framework, ensuring elite football players can successfully transition to professional football while maintaining educational and career opportunities. The project outcomes will encompass practical toolkits, policy guidelines, and a scalable Dual Career model, integrating sport and education to foster athlete success beyond the playing field.
Give Sport a Say (101253838), the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme project coordinated by the Organizzazione Per l’Educazione allo Sport (OPES) aims to inform citizens about the EU decision-making process, the promotion of democracy and human rights in and through sports, as well as the collection of ideas on the future of the EU by integrating some activities into the regular events of the consortium partners.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
2026 EAS Membership
To reassert our support to the dual career sportspersons, we shall renew our determination, passion, and dedication by inspiring new members of the EAS family and by renewing our institutional 2026 EAS membership through the link http://www.dualcareer.eu/membership/.
2026 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship
Researchers up to 40 years of age are invited to participate in the call of papers for the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship (deadline: July 1, 2026). Further information is available at https://www.dualcareer.eu/call-for-papers-bengt-nybelius-scholarship-2025/
2026 EAS Conference: Save the date
Next October 5-7, 2026, the 2026 EAS Annual Conference will be held in in Oulu (Finland). This event is a crucial opportunity to inform on the advancements of dual career policies and provisions at local, regional, and national levels, to share the outcomes of EU-funded projects, to award innovative research by the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship, and to participate to the elections of the EAS President and Executive Board Members for 2027-2030 period (https://www.dualcareer.eu/call-for-papers-bengt-nybelius-scholarship-2025/).
On behalf of the Executive Board of EAS, I wish you and your beloved ones merry, bright, and regenerating holidays.
Prof. Laura Capranica,
EAS President
On December 10, 2025, the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament invited EAS to participate in the key stakeholder consultation in preparation of the 2028-2034 ERASMUS+ programme. Mr. Bogdan Zdrojewski, Member of European Parliament, CULT Vice-President, and Rapporteur, welcomed the participants followed by the contributions of Mr. Vassos Koutsioundas, Chair of the Council Working Party on Sport of the Cyprus Presidency in 2026; Mr. Giorgio Guazzugli-Marini, Head of Unit for Sport, European Commission; and Mr. Stanislas Frossard, EPAS Secretary General, Council of Europe.
The short presentations by some Members of the Parliament and by representatives of the invited stakeholder organisations offered views to further develop the ERASMUS+Sport programme, stressing the need to ensure long-term funding to the ERASMUS+ programme for the sport and physical activity sector. In relation to dual career, the EAS President, Laura Capranica, recognized the crucial position of maintaining dual career among the priorities of the ERASMUS+Sport programme for further promoting a progressive improvement of dual career culture in the Member States. She envisaged the establishment of a European dual career observatory for the collection of harmonized data to monitor the actual dual career situation and to further progress in the full recognition of the right to combine sport and academic education for all the student populations; to support the professional figure of dual career tutor; and to promote the adoption of dual career policies and provisions for the employee-sportspersons in the labour sector.
On the second day, December 11, the EAS President attended the 2026 ERASMUS+Sport Info Day organized by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in cooperation with the Sport Unit of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). This yearly event is crucial to share information on the funding opportunities for collaborative partnerships and capacity building project proposals according to the 2026 ERASMUS+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide), as well as to provide network opportunities between potential partners.
After opening the event, Mrs. Sophie Beernaerts, EACEA Director, moderated the high-level round table on the future ERASMUS+ programme with the contribution of Mr. Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport; Mr. Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Member of the European Parliament; and Mr. Vassos Koutsioundas from the Cyprus Sport Organisation.
Two plenary sessions addressed the policy priorities and novelties of the 2026 call for projects, respectively. In particular, Mr. Giorgio Guazzugli-Marini, Head of Sport Unit at DG EAC, Mr. Peter Fischer, Mrs. Paola Ottonello and Mr. Stefano Pintus from the Sport Unit illustrated the sport priorities focused primarily on health, innovation, and green environment, whereas Mr. Theo Duivenvoorde, Head of Erasmus Mundus & Sport Unit at EACEA, Mrs. Gael Broze, Mrs. Helena Kamencikova, and Mrs. Izabela Pelczynska provided advice for preparing original proposals and successful partnerships.
Three parallel sessions were organized to address mobility opportunities for sport staff available at National Agencies; application templates, lump sum funding mechanisms and selection processes for successful projects; and the Capacity Building action and its characteristics, respectively.
During the last plenary session, Mr. Giorgio Guazzugli Marini, Mrs. Sacha Beck, Mr. Mads Lyngso Schou from the Sport Unit reported the preliminary results from the Public Consultation to shape the future of sports in Europe “A Strategic Vision for Sport in Europe: Reinforcing the European Sport Model”
Mr. Georg Hausler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport, at DG EAC summarized the main aspects of the day and provided the closing remarks. In the next days, presentations will be available at https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/events/info-session-erasmus-sport-2026-2025-12-11_en.
On the third day, December 12, EACEA, Mr. Giorgio Guazzugli Marini, Head of the Sport Unit at the European Commission, welcomed the representatives of National Coordinating Bodies, and official partners of the #BeActive campaign (including EAS) participating in the Debrief Seminar. The event aimed to stimulate ideas for future editions based on the reflection on the 10th celebration of the European Week of Sport (EWoS).
Mrs. Violeta Birzniece reported that 15,107,722 participants joined the 79,420 #BeActive events across 39 European countries, highlighting a positive trend with respect to the previous EWoS editions. Mrs. Paola Ottonello reported that Instagram resulted one of the most active social media for sharing content of the events. She also anticipated the plans for 2026 and 2027, with the launch of the #BeActive Winter (February 1-7, 2027) to be officially announced during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Mr. Miguel Romero presented key objectives, priorities, deadlines, submission arrangements, eligibility criteria of the 2026-2027 call, and reminded the participants of the concept of #BeActive Night to be held next September the 26-27, 2026 across Europe. Finally, Mr. Peter Fischer launched an interactive Q&A session to foresee possible opportunities and improvements.
Furthermore, Cypriot and Irish National good practices of the “Move more – Scroll less” 2025 campaign offered insights into successful national-level practices, whereas the first experiences of the new EWoS partners called for strengthening cross-sector collaboration.
Finally, based on the 2025 experience, participants shared their opinions for the implementation of the 2026 EWoS during a group work session. For further information on EWoS and the #BeActive campaign is available at sport.ec.europa.eu/european-week-of-sport
On December 5, 2025, the FIND ME Team met online to discuss the advancement of the project. Funded by the ERASMUS+Sport programme (101134043), the three-year FIND ME project primarily aims to structure an evidence-based European platform specifically tailored for dual career at university level.
During the first two years, the FIND ME Team published scientific evidence on the needs and expectations of sportspersons (athletes, coaches, physical trainers, referees, sports managers, volunteers) as university students and on the implementation of dual career at European higher education institutions according to the student-athletes’ and experts’ views.
After having collected the contact persons of European universities, starting from January 2026 the FIND ME coordinator will send them a FIND ME invitation letter asking to provide relevant data to populate the FIND ME platform for helping student-athletes finding the most suitable study programmes for their dual careers. Stay tuned.
The FIND-ME: University Dual Career Opportunities project [ERASMUS+Sport, 101134043) is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
On November 24, 2025, the 19th EAS Cafè was organized to discuss the relevance of soft skills for the employability of athletes at the end of their sport career and to raise the awareness of the educational platform for young athletes (https://SS4DC.eu) now available thank to the collaborative efforts of the ERASMUS+Sport SmartStart4DC consortium (101133555).
Prof. Cristina Cortis (University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, Italy) welcomed around 100 participants and moderated the interesting questions addressed at the endo of the speakers’ presentations.
The Cafè was opened by Mrs. Vedrana Malec who illustrated how her outstanding athletic cross-country skiing helped her improving different soft skills, which are extremely useful for her professional careers, followed by Mr. Sebastian Harry Lloy Algie, who highlighted how soft skills helped him as a basketball athlete in different contexts and a student in physiotherapy, and by Mr. Joseph Tanti who shared his experience as an elite handball athlete in countries with different sport cultures and as a coach of youth teams in Malta. These testimonies stimulated a participated discussion on the important role of soft skills, which are usually lacking in formal educational paths.
To enhance the student-athlete knowledge, competences, and skills, Mr. Renato Vuk, coordinator of the Smart Start for DC, illustrated the SS4DC platform encompassing educational material organized in 10 modules regarding Communication Skills, Social interaction skills, Emotional Intelligence, Listening skills, Leadership, Team-work and Collaboration, Time Management, Desire for Continuous Learning, Critical Thinking, and Respect for Diversity. Whilst the educational course for athletes encompasses videos, text lessons, reflections, and self-assessment tests for each module, the section dedicated to the educators presents manuals and presentations in several languages (e.g., English, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Italian, and Turkish). Furthermore, the platform offers self-assessments for career guidance in sports, labour market, continuing education, and transferable skills. Finally, Mr. Vuk invited the participants to follow the social media of the SS4DC project.
A special thank to mr. Marco Pinchera who translated the speeches in visual-gestural language for the deaf community.
Soft skills are considered crucial for the employability of athletes at the end of their sport career, and the key aim of the ERASMUS+Sport SmartStart4DC project (101133555; https://SS4DC.eu)
On behalf of the EAS Executive Committee, we inform you that the 19th EAS Virtual Cafè on “XXI century skills as a bridge between sport and employability” will be held on Monday November 24, 2025 (from 13:00 CET) zoom meeting: https://uni-lj-si.zoom.us/j/99306210428
13:10 Welcome – Prof. Cristina Cortis, PhD
Cristina Cortis, PhD, is Rector Delegate for Sport and Health at the University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, Italy. Her research interests span from determinants of sport performances to dual career of athletes.
13:10 What Sport Has Taught Me About Succeeding in Business and Life – Mrs. Vedrana Malec
Vedrana Malec, Master’s Degree in Journalism, is a three-time Olympian in cross-country skiing. Currently, a project manager in the sports event industry, and a dual career ambassador of the Croatian Olympic Committee. She believes that dedication, discipline, and teamwork are the foundation of personal growth, professional development, and the achievement of long-term goals.
13:20 Dual Careers in the 21st Century: Building a Successful Path Beyond Sport – Mr. Sebastian Harry Lloy Algie
Sebastian Harry Lloy Algie, Bachelor Degree in Physiotherapy, is a former basketball player born in Canada who moved to Italy with his family and started playing basketball till two years ago.
13:30 Pursuing Excellence in Life through Sports – Mr. Joseph Tanti
Joseph Tanti, Master’s in Science of Sports Coaching, is a teacher of Physical Education, a handball coach, and Sports Promotion teacher in Malta. He spent three years at the Aarhus Sports Academy in Denmark where he coached a women’s handball team.
13:40 Smart start for DC – the Dual Career Journey Starts Here – Mr. Renato Vuk
Renato Vuk, Bachelor Degree in Media Management, is the Head of the Project Management Office at Sports School PESG, where he aims to provide young student-athletes with high access to additional growth opportunities and support in pursuing their dual careers, as through the European SS4DC educational platform.
13:50 General discussions and concluding remarks
Within the opening ceremony of the Italian Society of Movement and Sports Sciences (SISMeS), a dual career symposium on the Italian and European dual career was organized. SISMeS is a partner of EAS and its 2025 conference attracted more than 370 participants, represents the most important event of the sport sciences, addressing research topics spanning from education, health, performance, and public engagement.
Moderated by Prof. Attilio Parisi (SISMeS President), Prof. Giuliana Gobbi (Conference Chair) and Angela Di Baldassarre (SISMeS Past-President), Laura Capranica (EAS President) presented the EU-funded projects and their outcomes targeting athletes (e.g., SmartStart for DC, Springboards, EdMedia, ELCAMP), teachers/tutors (e.g., Talent, Starting11, Estport, DC Mentor, COMPATH), parents (e.g., EMPATIA), universities (e.g., DiscoverU, More Than Gold, FIND ME), and companies (BRAVA DC) available at the European Commission Platform of ERASMUS+ projects (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects). Germano Guerra (President of UniSport Italia and University of Perugia Rector’s Delegate for Sport) illustrated the advancement of Italian DC at university level and the role of the UniSPortItalia Network. Giuliana Gobbi (University of Parma Rector’s Delegate for Sport) described the DC programme at the University of Parma and the collaboration with high schools and the University Sport Association, and Eseos Fostine Desalu (Olympic Gold Medallist Tokyo 2020) provided an inspirational speech for athletes.
Olga Papale, winner of the 2025 Bengt Nybelyus Scholarship, received the Special Mention of the Young Researcher Award for her oral presentation,
Dear friends of Dual Career,
As anticipated during the EAS Conference in Riga last October, we inform you that the 19th EAS Virtual Cafè on “XXI century skills as a bridge between sport and employability” will be held on Monday November 24, 2025 (from 13:00 CET).
We invite you to visit the official website of the ERASMUS-Sport Smart Start 4 DC project (https://SS4DC.eu) where you can explore the Educator Manuals of Communication Skills, Social Interaction, Emotional Intelligence, Listening Skills, Leaderships Skills, Teamwork&Collaboration, Desire for Continuous Learning and Application of Knowledge, Critical Thinking, and Respect for Diversity
In the next days, you can have further information and the link to the Cafè at www.dualcareer.eu.
Together with the meeting of the ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership AthleteConnect (ACON), on October 29 and 30, 2025 the University Sports Association of Poland (AZS) celebrated in Warsaw (Poland) the Polish governmental programme of dual career with an event encompassing the Annual University Sport Congress, an international Conference on Dual Career, and a Gala to honour the major achievements of the Polish University Sport.
During the international Conference the EAS President, Laura Capranica, provided an overview of the European dual career, including the opportunities offered by deliverables of some European Collaborative Partnerships for athletes (e.g., SmartStart for DC, Springboards, EdMedia, ELCAMP), teachers/tutors (e.g., Talent, Starting11, Estport, DC Mentor, COMPATH), parents (e.g., EMPATIA), universities (e.g., DiscoverU, More Than Gold, FIND ME), and companies (BRAVA DC) available at the European Commission Platform of ERASMUS+ projects (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects).
Andrej Pisl illustrated the mission, activities, events and projects of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), highlighting the role of dual career to enhance the university impact and visibility through the ongoing ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership Discovering University Sport and Dual Career (DiscoverU).
Spartaco Grieco presented the activities of the sports club APS ASD Margherita Sport e Vita (Italy), which is involved in several European projects focused on the dual career support of youth athletes, including Smart Start for DC.
Johanna Perrier explained the vision, activities, programmes of the French Sport Foundation with special focus on the creation of a support community for talented athletes, including a dedicated platform for individuals and businesses to engage in tax-deductible donations to support the specific needs of youth athletes.
Finally, Kristiana Kazandzhieva from the Bulgarian Olympic Committee provided an overview of the ACON project on dual career and its main outcomes.
Moderated by Krzysztof Sedzicki, medallists at the 2025 Summer University Games Maksymilian Szwed (track and field-gold), Przemysław Konecki (compound archery-bronze), Szymon Piatkowski (taekwondo-silver) and Aleksandra Leszczynska from AZS Lodz and Karol Bar from AZS AWF Katowice participated in a panel discussion and provided their personal experiences, the past and actual challenges, and vision of future transitions.
Aleksandra Leszczynska (AZS Lodz) moderated the last panel session with Rector Alojzy Z. Nowak, (University of Warsaw and President of the Academic Sports Association), Piotr Borys (Ministry of Sport and Tourism), Rector Bartosz Molik (University of Physical Education, Warsaw), Prof. Adam Zając (Vice-Rector for Sport at the University of Physical Education, Katowice) who discussed the relationships between national and local governments, and university sport bodies.
After the conference, a special Gala celebrated the major achievements and successes in the field of university sport in Poland, from the athletes to the university sport organizations and the universities.
The European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS) is a European initiative celebrating inclusive, sustainable, and accessible winter sport experiences for all.
From 1 to 8 February 2026, schools, clubs, municipalities, and organizations across Europe will organise local activities under a shared European movement.
Would you like to join and become part of this campaign?
Take part in the upcoming international webinar “Become an Event Organizer during the European Week of Winter Sport 2026”, taking place on Tuesday, 19 November(10:00–11:00 CET).
During this session, participants will learn:
- How to register their activities as part of the EWWS 2026;
- How to gain visibility at European level;
- How to align with EWWS key values: inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/aN38bGZ9RbiKrEpjpFKhxg
Join the movement, get inspired, and make your community part of the European Week of Winter Sport 2026!
More information: https://wintersportweek.com
October 16, 2025
The FIND ME Erasmus+ Project, running until 2027, aims to create an evidence-based European platform that helps athletes find the best dual career opportunities at university level across Europe, in line with the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes, by bringing together experienced partners and institutions from national, European, and international dual career networks to enhance visibility and quality of educational and athletic pathways.
The FIND ME Project is led by the University of Niš, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (Serbia), in partnership with the University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara (Italy), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iași (Romania), International University of La Rioja SA (Spain), OKKAM SRL (Italy), The European Athlete as Student – EAS (Malta), and Collective Innovation.
REG. NUMBER: Voluntary Organisation registration VO/1270
PIC NUMBER: 913459865
Email: info@dualcareer.eu