April 2022
Within the EU Erasmus+ sports programme (603523-EPP-1-2018-1-SI-SPO-SCP ), the Athletes Friendly Education – AFE Collaborative Partnership (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/eplus-project-details#project/603523-EPP-1-2018-1-SI-SPO-SCP) coordinated by the Slovenian Olympic Committee in cooperation with the Deutsche Olympische Akademie Willi Daume (DOA), the Pomorski Fakultet u Rijeci, the Odbojkarska Federacija na Makedonija, the EUSA Institute, the Hrvatska Olimpijska Akademija, the Comite Olympique Et Interfederal Belge ASBL, the Univerza v Mariboru and the Comite Olimpico De Portugal, published the Athletes Friendly Education Book (https://www.verlagdrkovac.de/volltexte/12146/12147_Athletes_Friendly_Education_OpenAccess.pdf) and the Athletes Friendly Education Handbook: Award for Educational Institutions Supporting the Dual Career of Athletes (https://athletes.friendly.edu.olympic.si/results/athletes-friendly-education-handbook), which address the topic of athlete’s education requiring a continuous planning, organizing, and improving a system of adaptations included in the educational process and infrastructure.
These adaptations are implemented voluntarily and in a benevolent, systematic, comprehensive, and transparent manner with the explicit aim to help athletes engage in sport, and simultaneously achieve goals and competencies set out in the educational program and thus complete their education. In particular, suggested aspects to be considered when working with athletes encompass systemic measures on the state level, the role of educational institutions and their evaluation, the student’s motivation, the role of e-learning in supporting elite athletes, and the effect of curriculum adaptations on overall academic success.
Further information on empirical research is available in the “Dual Career Development Perspective: Factors Affecting Quality of Post-sport Career Transition of employed Olympic Athletes” published in the peer-review journal Frontiers in Psychology (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.800031/full).
Europe is going through difficult and disruptive times, with the alarming humanitarian crisis continuing to evolve and COVID-19 pandemic still limiting personal interactions. Indeed, Easter is the time of renewal through considering our real values and appreciating what can enrich our lives. In these exacerbated and disastrous social tensions, sports and education could be examples of collective efforts to recover and look forward a re-start with new strength, humanity, and openness after these calamities. In this framework, EAS is committed to keep sustaining the dual career of sportspersons and working hard on ERASMUS+Sports Collaborative Partnerships and forthcoming initiatives, including the organization of the 2022 Annual Conference and General Assembly to be held in Cartagena, Spain next September 28-30.
Recent activities
Driven by the aims of the Network, in the past months EAS carried out several virtual activities to support a fruitful exchange in dual career between institutions, experts, and policy makers across Europe. In particular, the bimonthly online Cafè were dedicated to “Well-being and mental health for Dual Career athletes at high school level” and “Dual Career service providers”, which had been greatly participated and appreciated. The next Cafè will be organized in May-June and will focus on the paralympic student-athletes.
Create skill enhancement opportunities for people who are working in the field of dual career
The 2017 (e.g., EMPATIA) and 2018 (e.g., DONA, ED MEDIA, MTG, and SoS) Erasmus+ Cooperative Partnerships have been finalized and their outcomes are available at the ERASMUS+PROJECT RESULTS platform (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects#search/project/keyword=sports%2520opens%2520school&matchAllCountries=false), whereas the STARTING11 Final Conference will be held in Amsterdam next May 12. In addition to online activities of the 2020 BRAVA-DC, Para-limits, and ElCAMP Erasmus+ Cooperative Partnerships, EAS participated to the face-to-face transnational meetings organized in Oslo and in Cartagena for ElCAMP, and in Rome for Para-limits. Furthermore, the Collaborative Partnership COMPATH has been granted 2021 Erasmus+ funds for the next years. Finally, EAS participated to the 2022 call of the Erasmus+Sport.
Build up academic research work in the field of dual career.
This year, a scientific manuscript on the outcomes of the More Than Gold project has been published (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264175) and the last paper of the EMPATIA project is currently under revision. To support young researchers in dual career, before July 1st, 2022, applications for the 2022 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship have to be submitted to info@dualcareer.eu, encompassing the curriculum vitae of the first author and his/her original manuscript. The winner will have to summarize her/his work with a 15-minute oral presentation in English at the 2022 Annual EAS Conference in Cartagena, Spain, September 28-30. Further information is available at https://www.dualcareer.eu/call-for-papers-bengt-nybelius-scholarship-2022/
Create a political environment that addresses the needs of talented athletes pursuing a dual career by cooperating with partners in sport and educational systems
Fruitful partnerships with the European Commission and the Council of Europe have been consolidated through the participation in relevant events held, mainly organized in online modalities. Next May 18, 2022 EAS will participate to the School Sport Forum of the ISF Gymnasiade, to be held in Normandy, France. These activities will consolidate and enhance a political environment that addresses Dual Career issues in sport and educational systems.
EAS is inviting you to follow its official website and social media to keep informed on the ongoing activities. We greatly value your contribution to the European Dual Career culture, and we will be happy to disseminate your activities.
Save the date
May 12, 2022 – STARTING11 Final Conference (https://starting11.eu/conference/).
September 28-30, 2022 – EAS Annual Conference and General Assembly, Cartagena, Spain (https://www.dualcareer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/EAS-Annual-Conference_flyer.pdf)
We wish you and your loved ones all the best for health and peace.
On behalf of the EAS Executive Committee
Laura Capranica
President
Bengt Nybelius, together with Risto Keskitalo, the founder of the European Athlete as Student Network (EAS), was a brilliant mind, who settled the objectives and the structure of the organisation in 2004. He passed away in 2011, and EAS decided to establish a scholarship to carry on the legacy of his work. Therefore, we are happy to announce the Call for Paper of the “2022 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship”
Aims of the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship
The aim of the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship is to facilitate the integration of outstanding scholars and young researchers in the area of dual career.
Eligibility to the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship
Regardless the nationality and country of residence, researchers up to 40 years of age could be eligible for the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship.
Requirements to apply to the 2022 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship
Applicants must submit as first author an original manuscript related to the scope of EAS. Manuscripts must not contain information presented in other manuscripts published elsewhere.
The manuscript should be written in English, between 15 and 30 pages double-spaced in Arial font size 11, including title page, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, acknowledgments (if applicable), references, tables, figures and legends, and statement of conflicts of interest.
Manuscripts must be accompanied by a cover letter, stating clearly why the work is considered suitable for the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship and explaining the importance of the study.
Selection of the 2022 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship Winner
The Board of EAS will consider the quality of submitted manuscripts and notify the winner by July 31, 2021. The winner has to summarize her/his work with a 15-minute oral presentation in English at the 2022 Annual EAS Conference in Cartagena, Spain, September 28-30.
EAS will arrange travel, accommodation, and registration of the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship winner.
Application to the 2022 to disseminate Bengt Nybelius Scholarship
To be considered for the 2022 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship applicants before July 1st, 2022 (midnight CET) must submit by e-mail to info@dualcareer.eu, including:
- A copy of the manuscript (PDF)
- An abstract, 1 page, about 2400 characters
- Curriculum vitae and list of publications (if there are others)
Requests of further information, if needed, could be addressed to info@dualcareer.eu. We are looking forward to receiving your application!
A Self-employment Career Option for Elite Athletes: Innovative Sport-focused Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (ElCAMP) is an ERASMUS project aiming to provide European elite athletes with a platform to support the creation of their business based on the identification of the athleytes’ needs and expectations in terms of entrepreneurship.
The Collaborative Partnership is coordinated by Collective Innovation AS (Norway) and includes the Hogskolen I Molde (Norway), Olimpijski Komite Slovenije Zdruzenje Sportnih Zvez (Slovenia), Fundacion Universitaria San Antonio (UCAM, Spain) Lietuvos Sporto Universitetas (Lithuania), Mobile Adventure Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia (Poland), and EAS as Partners.
On March 31, 2022, UCAM welcomed the Partners in Cartagena to discuss the findings of the ELCAMP research phase, which encompassed comparative analyses of 38 interviews carried out by four partners, and an online survey administered to 188 athletes. In particular, five main areas of interest to be included in the platform have been identified, mainly related to business knowledge, entrepreneurial attitudes, business management, entrepreneurial skills, and technological knowledge.
Future steps will comprise the dissemination of the platform and its validation before October 2022. More information is available at the ElCAMP website https://www.bootcampforathletes.com
On 24 and 25 March, 2022, UNISPORT ITALIA (the network of 53 Italian universities) organized the First National Conference on Dual Career at the University of Rome “Foro Italico”. The event aimed to stimulate reflections on the profound cultural change that is taking place in Italy in the relationship between academia and sport, to highlight projects and good practices in place, and to outline future actions for an enhanced synergies between these two sectors in relation to services, research, innovation, and contribution to communities and territories.
During the first day, the President of UNISPORT ITALIA, Paolo Bouquet (University of Trento) and the Rector University of Rome Foro Italico, Attilio Parisi, welcomed the participants and the distinguished lecturers. The event was opened by the Undersecretary of State for Sport and Olympic medalist Valentina Vezzali, who commended the networking activities and the fruitful exchange of good practices of UNISPORT ITALIA. She also anticipated the Governmental support for improving Dual Career at academic level including the allocation of funds for scholarships to athletes as students. Luca Pancalli, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP) claimed that a country not investing in education has no future, being the cultural growth a real social elevator and an assurance for social inclusion. Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, affirmed that sport and education must be integrated for the holistic development of the individual. Giovanni Malagò, President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), and Pompeo Leone, Secretary General of the Italian association of University Sport (CUSI) underlined the relevant efforts of UNISPORT ITALIA, CONI, and CUSI in developing national Dual Career guidelines to allow an effective complementarity of sports and academic careers. Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Vice President of the Italian Conference of University Rectors (CRUI), recognized the sports values of equality, collaboration, attention, and respect of rules crucial to educate future generations of citizens. Vito Cozzoli, President of Sport & Health, Andrea Abodi President of the the Italian bank for the sustainable development of sports and culture (Istituto di Credito Sportivo) envisioned future collaboration with UNISPORT ITALIA for the promotion of the educational value of sport and possible development of sports facilities at university level, respectively.
Maurizio Marano (University of Bologna), presented the findings of the survey promoted by UNISPORT ITALIA on Dual Career at Italian Universities and the online platform developed to help athletes get acquainted with the different Dual Career paths offered at academic level (https://www.unisport-italia.it/dual-career/). Kairis Ulp, Policy Officer of the European Commission, illustrated the European dimension of the Dual Career of athletes and the opportunities of the 2021-2024 workplan for sport. Mojca Doupona, Slovenian Director General for Sport and EAS Treasurer, described the actions carried out during the Past Slovenian Presidency of the European Union and the follow-up peer learning activities in Dual Career planned for September 2022. Paolo Pizzo (CONI) explained the efforts and objectives of the CONI-UNISPORT ITALIA-CUSI working group in developing the national guidelines for Dual Career. The EAS President, Laura Capranica, pointed out the achievements, challenges, and future directions of the developmental process in Dual Career fostered by the ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnerships. Pompeo Leone (CUSI) reported on the research carried out by CUSI on Dual Career programmes at higher academic institutions and distributed the report book to the participants (also available at http://cusi.it/wp-content/uploads/ALLEGATIPDF/The_dual_career_of_student_athletes_in_italian_universities_cc.pdf). Finally, Dr. Elisabetta Nones (University of Trento and member of the Board of the European network on sports services in universities – ENAS) introduced the aims of the European Network of Academic Sports Services (ENAS).
On March 25, Dual Career programmes and projects at the University of Verona, Polytechnic of Turin, University of Padua, University for Foreigners of Siena, Luiss Guido Carli University, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (UCSC), University of Molise, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, University of Naples “Federico II, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Trento, Link Campus University, Sapienza University of Rome and Campus Bio-Medico University, University of Calabria, University of Siena have been presented and the financial opportunities provided by the Credito Sportivo have been described. After the Conference, the General Assembly of UNISPORT Italia elected the eight Members of 2022-2025 Board (Marco Barla, Politecnico di Torino; Paolo Bouquet, Università di Trento; Laura Capranica, Università di Roma “Foro Italico”; Cristina Cortis, Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale; Marco Gesi, Università di Pisa; Caterina Gozzoli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Luigi Melica, Università del Salento; Antonio Paoli, Università di Padova), who will designate the new President in the next days. The Board will also include a Member Designated by CRUI.
Hrvatski olimpijski odbor – Naslovna (hoo.hr)
Zagreb, Croatia March 29, 2022 – Very well-known Croatian Olympian Snježana Pejčić (39) has been hired as the head of the newly established Career Centre for Athletes, which will work at the Croatian Olympic Committee. She is the first Olympic medallist (bronze) for Croatia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as the first Olympic medallist in archery in individual competition for women. After the Tokyo Olympics, she decided to end her active sports career and turn a new page in her life with an academic degree. Since 2019, she has been working in a dual career: as a DC ambassador in the Sinergy project for sports culture, Olympic values and dual careers in sport and as a member of the Commission for Dual Careers in Sport and Athletes Commission in the Croatian Olympic Committee. As an athlete and student, ambassador and member of the Commissions, she has a lot of experience in helping active, former and future athletes who need assistance with dual careers. She said she “hopes to be as successful in this position as she was in her sports career.”
During the last year, EAS supported the President of the Croatian Commission for Dual Careers in Sport, Prof. Romana Caput-Jogunica, in her efforts to finalize the whole process related to the Centre.
On March 24 the sixth virtual EAS cafè focused on the good practices and opportunities for dual career service providers. Antonino Bianco, Professor of Sports Sciences and Deputy Dean for International Relations at the University of Palermo moderated the event offering good practices at the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Spain, and future educational opportunities for dual career service providers through the ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership STARTING11 platform.
The outstanding dual career approach at UCAM was illustrated by Prof. Antonio Sanchez-Pato and Prof. Alejandro Leiva-Arcas, Dean and Deputy Director of the Faculty of Sport at UCAM, respectively. Since 2011, UCAM established a solid dual career service for 425 Spanish athletes as students (males 55%, females 45%) competing in 35 different sports disciplines and cooperated in more than ten ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnerships in dual career. In particular, during the last two Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, UCAM Student-athletes won 24 (Rio 2016: 15 Olympic, 9 Paralympic) and 27 (Tokyo 2020: 20 Olympic, 7 Paralympic) medals. The dual career programme at UCAM is based on four pillars: Recruitment, Administrative assistance, Academic support, and Research development. Recruitment provides 90% full scholarships and 10% discount fees (range 20-50%), including a possibility to extend the scholarship to family members in case of relocation. Whilst the administrative assistance is managed by an academic manager helping with administrative issues and financial support, the academic support involves both professors and students with mentoring and study buddy roles, respectively. Through Research, UCAM approaches dual career as an ongoing laboratory and establishes cooperation with several academic institutions and sport bodies. In fact, in 2015 UCAM published the handbook “An Innovative European Sports Tutorship Model of the Dual Career of Student-Athletes” (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/eplus-project-details#project/603346-EPP-1-2018-1-LV-SPO-SCP), in 2021 a special issue on Dual Career of the peer-review journal of UCAM “Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte” encompassing 11 international scientific contributions (https://ccd.ucam.edu/index.php/revista/issue/view/87), and in 2022 the Guidelines to Promote the Dual Career of Athletes-Students (Methodology for Universities and Manual for Authorities) within the More Than Gold ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/eplus-project-details#project/603346-EPP-1-2018-1-LV-SPO-SCP). Finally, UCAM will host in Cartagena, Spain, the 2022 EAS Annual Conference and General Assembly next September 28-30.
Dennis van Vlaanderen and Wolfgang Stockinger Manager of Elite Sport & Education at the Amsterdam University of Applied Science and CEO of TW1N illustrated the educational platform for dual career service providers developed within the ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership STARTING11 to facilitate the implementation and professionalize dual career practice at sport, education and the labour market levels. In having in mind the needs of the dual career practitioner and supporter, the ready-made and fully customizable digital tools pertains three main service areas: Manage, Train, and Counsel. In particular, the manage area helps building the political, theoretical and infrastructural know-how to implement and administrate dual career services as well as to efficiently communicate towards the most relevant dual career stakeholders. The train aims to prepare, sensitize and empower athletes by providing them with knowledge, inspiration and skills to successfully pursue their dual careers. The Counsel area intends to professionalize interpersonal counselling services to foster the coping, decision-making and planning capability of athletes during career transitions. At the end of their presentation, Dennis van Vlaanderen and Wolfgang Stockinger invited the participants to attend the STARTING 11 Final Conference at the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium next May 12, 2022. The Event will allow to explore the European Dual Career Toolkit first-hand, to attend presentations and workshops of international dual career experts and high-performance athletes, and to network with like-minded professionals from across Europe. The link for further information and registration ihttps://starting11.eu/conference/.
After the general discussion, Prof. Bianco complimented with the speakers and especially appreciated the outputs of their Collaborative Partnerships, which provide useful material freely accessible online for the benefit of dual career service providers.
REG. NUMBER: Voluntary Organisation registration VO/1270
PIC NUMBER: 913459865
Email: info@dualcareer.eu