Author: duponam
On October 6-8, 2025, the University of Latvia hosted the Annual EAS Conference and General Assembly in Riga, Latvia. Eighty-two delegated from 17 countries attended the event, appreciated the 29 oral presentations reporting dual career programmes, projects, and policies, and enthusiastically participated in three workshops, six activity breaks and two long walks organized to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the #BeActive Programme.
During the opening ceremony, Prof. Ilvis Abelkalns, President of the Organizing Committee, welcomed the participants, followed by Enno Ence, Vice Rector of University of Latvia, EAS President Laura Capranica, Raimonds Lazdiņš, President of National Olympic committee, and Agita Ābele, President of Latvian Universities Sports Federation.
A key lecture on the ERASMUS+ funding opportunities on Dual Careers by Izabela Pelczynska (European Education and Culture Executive Agency – EACEA) was crucial to stimulate the envisioning of further collaborations between the participants. Sara Massini, Secretary General of ENGSO, presented the continuum between grassroot and elite sport and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between EAS and ENGSO.
Fernando Parente, FISU Executive Committee member, presented International University Sports Federation (FISU) and Dual Career – a global approach for stakeholders; Edgars Pukinsks, Deputy State Secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science Republic of Latvia, addressed the topic Legacy Dual careers – double impact, double responsibility; the session was closed by Joerg Foerster (German University Sport Federation- ADH) who illustrated the Legacy of the FISU World University Games, focusing on the Dual Career of Student-Para-Athletes.
The Bengt Nybelius Scholarship winner Olga Papale from the University of Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, Italy, presented “Eating Right, Sleeping Tight? The Evaluation of the Student-Athlete Paradox”.
In the afternoon, Felipe Rodrigues da Costa, president of the Brazilian Association of Dual Career presented Challenges and opportunities for implementing and developing a student-athlete support program in the Federal District (Brazil). Then three Working Group Activities addressed the following topics: 1) Dual Career in High School, Transition from High School to University, Dual Career in Universities, and Transition from a Sports Career to Employment.
On the second day, the Conference was organized at the Rimi Olympic where Ruta Millere Celmiņa from the Latvian Olympic Committee, presented Elite Level Athletes’ Awareness and Use of Dual-Career Programs in Latvia; Klāvs Olšteins, from the Latvian Basketball Union addressed the topic Basketball – as an opportunity to earn an education; and Jacopo Bouquet from Sport4impact, Italy, illustrated Dual Career from the perspective of SDG17 and PPPs. The following presentations were dedicated to “Focus on the transition from university to the job market: initiative by AU Elitesport” (Anna-Lena Toft Petersen, AU Elitesport, Aarhus University, Denmark), “Updating Dual Career Self-Management in Individualized Mentor-Mentee Collaboration in Sports and Studies” (Agita Ābele, Latvian University Sports Federation), “University mentoring network to facilitate the dual career of athlete-students” (Antonio Sánchez-Pato, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Spain), “Sustainability Perceptions Among Young Tennis Players: Insights from the European GreenTennis Project” (María José Maciá Andreu from UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, Spain), “Advancing Athlete Employability through Career Mentorship and Education” (Gamze Aydın, Sportstech, Türkiye), and “Improving the support to student athletes with international mobility” (Dorothée Brac de la Perriere, INSA Lyon, France), “Advancing Training and Support for Dual Career Officers Throughout Europe” (Juan Alfonso Garcia Roca, UCAM, Spain), ”Finnish high school student athletes’ perceptions of the implementation of the dual career” (Pertti Huotari, University of Jyväskylä, Finland), “PORTAL Project: Building an Inclusive European Platform for Olympians’ Post-Career Transitions” (Francesca Di Rocco, San Raffaele Open University of Rome, Italy), “ERASMUS Sport Project – FIND ME: University Dual Career Opportunities“ (Nenad Stojiljković, University of Nis, Serbia), “Designing and Evaluating a Stakeholder-Informed Mobile App to Promote Physical Activity in Children: The Walk Around the Earth Erasmus+ Project” (Cristina Cortis, University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, Italy), “Elevate DC – Building the Future of Elite Athlete Careers in Latvia” (Owen Southgate, NYSA, Sweden). “Choosing Non Teaching Paths in PETE: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Dual Career University Footballers” (Rıdvan Çakir, Şırnak University, Turkiye), “Fostering Success in Young Biathletes: Addressing Cultural and Educational Challanges” (Mojca Doupona, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), “Books, Boxing, Belonging: The Case of Turkish Female Student-Athlete Duo” (Kıvanç Semiz, RTEU, Turkiye), “Perception of barriers in dual careers and the importance given to psychological characteristics in athletes in training: a gender perspective” (Juan Alfonso Garcia Roca, UCAM, Spain), “Winning in life, winning in sport” (Anda Paegle, University of Latvia; “Andara plus”, Latvia), “Supporting High Level Athletes at INSA, France” (Harve Bizzoto, INSA LYON, France), and “Forms of support for the student athletes in the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice” (Rajmund Tomik, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland).
Pekka Fredriksson, Jani Syrjala, and Ismo Miettinen (Kastelli Upper Secondary Sport School, Oulu, Finland), presented the 2026 EAS Conference to be held in Oulu, Finland, on October 5-7, 2026, whereas Hakan Ege (Collins Innovation, Oslo, Norway) launched the Europe’s Sport Knowledge Hub at https://voicesport.eu.
The Annual General Assembly was directed by the EAS Secretary Ole Keldorf. The members approved the activity report presented by the President Laura Capranica and the financial report presented by the Treasurer Mojca Doupona. The Assembly approved also the Cristina Cortis’ proposal to consider “Sports” as the scientific journal of EAS. Furthermore, the Assembly confirmed Flavia Guidotti, Alejandro Alejandro Leiva-Arcas, and Malene Knudsen as Members of the Next Generation EAS Committee, which will be responsible to assign the 2026 Bengt Nybelius Award and to collaborate to the enhancement of the communication channels of the Network.
During the Conference, the participants had also the opportunity to visit the University of Latvia, the Rimi Olympic Center infrastructure and facilities, the Olympic Museum, the beautiful Riga architectures, and to attend the Gala Dinner.
From October 6 to 8, the 22nd Annual International Conference “European Athletes as Students” (EAS) will take place at the University of Latvia in Riga, Latvia.
This year’s main theme, “Dual Careers of Elite Athletes: Integrating Sport and Education for Future Success,” focuses on how educational systems and sports organizations can collaborate to ensure a sustainable future for athletes.
The EAS Conference has become an important annual platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience among representatives of sports federations, universities, and sports schools, ERASMUS+ project partners, and dual career experts. The event features presentations of scientific research, examples of best practices, and opportunities for developing cooperation in future projects. Traditionally, the conference also includes the presentation of the Bengt Nibelius Scholarship, awarded to outstanding young researchers in the field of dual careers.
This year’s conference will gather around 70 participants from 16 European countries and Brazil—including professors, researchers, representatives of national Olympic committees, sports schools and academies, as well as students. Among the participants will also be representatives from the European Parliament, the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science, the Latvian Olympic Committee, the Latvian Basketball Association, and international organizations such as FISU and ENGSO.
Conference participants will explore innovative strategies and policy frameworks that support the academic and athletic development of young athletes. The program will also include practical examples from leading European universities (in Spain, Italy, and Germany), youth sports schools (in Denmark and Finland), as well as experiences from Brazil. Discussions and working groups will serve as a platform for developing new ideas and projects in the field of dual careers.
Professor Ilvis Abelkalns of the University of Latvia emphasizes:
“For the University of Latvia, this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to supporting student-athletes’ education, while also learning from practices implemented elsewhere in Europe. It is also a chance to contribute actively to the work of EAS—for example, the ERASMUS project ‘More than Gold’ initiated by the University of Latvia in 2021 developed guidelines for governments and universities that formed the basis for including dual career provisions in the new edition of the Latvian Sports Law.”
The open and friendly atmosphere of EAS conferences has always encouraged the creation of new initiatives, strengthened cooperation, and fostered the development of lasting professional relationships.
The official conference page: https://eas2025.lu.lv/
On September 22, 2025, the 18th EAS Cafè was organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the #BeActive programme and the 2025 European Week of Sport (EWoS).
In welcoming more than 60 participants from European countries and Brazil with different backgrounds, encompassing students, academics, and sports professionals, Prof. Mojca Doupona (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and EAS Treasurer) highlighted the very special milestone of the 10 year anniversary of EWoS as a driving force in helping millions of Europeans becoming active and discovering the countless benefits of a lifelong approach to sport to boost health and mental wellbeing, reduce stress, and bring people together across generations. She also addressed the significant role of the media and different campaigns in raising awareness of the society on growing economic and social impacts of sport, as well as to create positive change. In this respect, EAS has a relevant role for the dual career community.
President mr. Massimiliano Monnanni, and Project Manager mr. Francesco Titotto presented the public body Asilo Savoia and its Talent & Tenacity program, which was finalist in two editions of the #BeActive Award for managing sport programs in confiscated facilities of organized criminal organization, transforming urban peripheries into place of growth in partnership with local institutions. Through sport, Asilo Savoia built an ecosystem with long-term impacts to support youth, women, older, and disabled individuals. In the last 10 years, the Talento & Tenacia (Talent & Tenacity) program aimed to fight school dropout among young athletes in peripheral areas of Rome by offering individualized education plans, scholarships, vocational training, voluntary work, and community involvement. This project gives athletes opportunities to succeed in life independently from their sports career, and revitalized entire peripheral areas of Rome by creating safe and vibrant spaces where young people and the entire community could grow through a real social and urban regeneration that values education, legality and mutual growth. By investing in individual growth and personal development, also remarkable sports results were achieved, with the Montespaccato football team, a club also confiscated from organized crime, has been awarded several Fair Play prizes and achieved the Serie D championship, which is the entry point for the professional path. Finally, many former athletes have transitioned into roles within the sports sector, turning their athletic journey into a professional pathway for a strong and sustainable community for the future.
Dr. Duarte Lopes, Chief of Staff, Secretary of Sport of Portugal, organized two annual conferences of EAS and his involvement in dual career contributed to his personal growth as well as to that of the dual career community. He reminded that the celebration of the anniversary of the European Week of Sport is linked to the European values of inclusion, health and wellbeing, where dual career is part of the legacy of the European Union and the European Community. Dr. Lopes illustrated how Portugal is trying to increase the dual career programs in different ways. Since 2009, several legal papers supporting dual career programs have provided a legal framework for high performance athletes in different conditions. In 2019, the universities were required to create their specific dual career statute to support student-athletes, also in cooperation with the Olympic Committee and the national sport federations. In 2009, a national dual career program in schools was initiated, which has expanded last year through a pilot phase for higher education institutions to guarantee university students a support also at the national level hopefully in the next academic year. Dr. Lopes provided also some good examples in place in Portugal. In cooperation with the National Athletes Commission in the Olympic Committee, dual career measures and opportunities are published and explained in detail in their newsletters to help the student-athletes deciding their best pathway. Furthermore, some national sport federations, like football, golf, and Olympic handball, issue a certification to clubs based on the quality support they provide to young athletes, encompassing also the monitoring of academic achievements, and the organization of meetings with schools and universities. This certification is required when clubs wish to apply for financial support from municipalities. A step forward will be the inclusion in the sport clubs or sport federations of a sport tutor, which is already recognized by the professional qualification system in Portugal. These synergies between the central government, academic institutions, national federations, and municipalities create an ecosystem to support dual career programs. Dr. Duarte concluded with two quotes, one from a former National Olympic Committee President who said: “Sport is a public good that worths to society more than it costs” and his personal one: “Debates about dual career might lose their relevance in the next 10 years if dual career programs will be secured in all nations and all sports for all and each athlete in Europe”.
Dr. Francesca Salvia, a former water polo athlete and mother of two elite fencers and an international pentathlon referee, presented the EduChampDC project, which aimed to bridge the gap between education, sport and society. Envisioned by master’s student in sport management at the University of Rome Foro Italico, EduChampDC was launched at the end of 2024 to raise the awareness on dual career of policy makers, teachers, coaches, and student-athletes, and proceeded with 7 workshops organized in two high schools of Rome, with a further event organized today to celebrate the European Week of Sport through a refreshment course for high school teachers and principals. During the EduChampDC activities and the refreshment course, the advancement of dual career in Italian schools and universities was presented, useful outputs of ERASMUS+Sport projects for teachers (Starting11, Talent, and DC Mentor), parents (EMPATIA), athletes (Springboard, ELCAMP, and Smart Start 4 DC), and university orienteering (Find Me) have been illustrated, whereas the experiences and suggestions of 11 elite student-athletes as ambassadors provided useful information to the 293 participants, and to the 40 policy makers. The positive feedback from the open and direct dialogue between the students, parents, teachers, coaches, and policy makers allowed to envisage a further development of the EduChampDC at Italian level as well as the application to an ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership, which received a positive evaluation.
A special thank to mr. Marco Pinchera and mr. Pierpaolo Calandri who translated the speeches in visual-gestural language for the deaf community.
The 18th EAS cafè also informed on the upcoming 2025 EAS Annual Conference to be held on October 6-8, 2025 in Riga, Latvia (https://eas2025.lu.lv) where updates in dual career initiatives in Europe will be presented.
Dear friends of Dual Career,
In being an official partner of the European Week of Sport (EWoS), celebrating its 10-year anniversary under the banner of #BeActive programme, We inform you that the 18th EAS Virtual Cafè on “Dual Career Celebrates the European Week of Sport’s 10-year anniversary” will be held on Monday September 22, 2025 (from 13:00 CET).
13:00 Welcome – Prof. dr. Mojca Doupona, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Prof. Mojca Doupona is a Sport Sociologist and Treasurer of EAS. She has been the General Director of Sport during the Slovenian Presidency and participated in several ERASMUS+Sport projects, coordinating also the EMPATIA project, which established the on-line multi-lingual educational programme for parents of young and talented athletes involved in a dual career path (https://edu.empatiasport.eu/eng/).
13:10 ‘Talento & Tenacia’ (Talent & Tenacity) #BeActive recognition for educating young sportspersons with a view to social responsibility. – Massimiliano Monnanni, Asilo Savoia, Rome, Italy.
Dr. Massimiliano Monnanni is the President of “ASP Asilo Savoia”, a public autonomous body dedicated to social assistance in situations of neglect or social hardship. “Talent & Tenacity” is a sport programme for social inclusion aimed at minors and young people with educational actions on civic values and regeneration of territories where several criminal organizations were eradicated. For its activities, Asilo Savoia has been finalist of two #BeActive Awards in 2021-2022 and received several Italian recognitions.
13:25 Building Healthy Communities through Sport and Dual Career. – Dr. Duarte Lopes, Chief of Staff, Secretary of Sport, Portugal
Dr. Duarte Lopes has a long experience as Member of Sport Committees and Associations in Portugal (National Confederation of Sport, Secretary of State for Sport and Youth; Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport), and at European (Ad-hoc Group of Experts on Dual Careers and ENAS President) and International (FISU EC) levels. He organized two EAS Conference in Lisbon (2010, 2021).
13:40 EduChampDC Bringing Dual Career Actors Together – Francesca Salvia, MD, University of Rome Foro Italico, Rome, Italy.
Dr. Francesca Salvia is a former water polo athlete and the mother of two elite fencers and an international pentathlon referee. Besides her commitment as a medical doctor in a first aid unit, she is graduating in the Master’s Degree of Sports Management at the University of Rome Foro Italico and actively engaged in the EduChampDC project.
13:55 General discussions and concluding remarks
We look forward to meeting you for this important dual career event at https://op.europa.eu/o/opportal-service/download-handler?identifier=3f44deb6-8937-11f0-9af8-01aa75ed71a1&format=pdf&language=en&productionSystem=cellar&part=
We encourage you to organise meetings, workshops and activities at local and national levels in connection with the European Week of Sport!
On August 25, 2025, the SS4DC Team met online to discuss the progression of the collaboratibe Partnership funded by the Erasmus+Sport programme (101133555) to encourage the dual career of young athletes of high school age (from 14 to 19 years old) through timely preparation for the labor market.
The joint effort of the SS4DC Team (Sportsko učilište PESG – projekti, HR; MindSpin, CY;, Aps Asd Margherita Sport e Vita, IT; Champions Factory, BG; Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı, TR; and EAS – The Dual Career Network, MT) almost completed the educational modules of the SS4DC Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
During this year, the SS4DC Team intensified the dissemination of the project and the official launch of the platform is just around the corner!
Stay tuned, exciting updates are on the way!
The Smart Start for DC project is funded by the European Union coordinated by PEGS. 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.
– A dynamic programme with keynote speakers, interactive sessions and workshops designed to tackle real dual career challenges, opportunities, and strategies.
– Updated dual career insights and practical learning of resources from European dual career projects for developing capabilities be applied to your local, national, and international contexts.
– Build connections and collaborations across the dual career ecosystem that extend beyond the Conference for future European projects.
– Celebrate with the dual career community the 10th Anniversary of the European Week of Sport (https://sport.ec.europa.eu/european-week-of-sport).
– Together we can advance the European dual career culture for the benefit of the European sport
Register before August 22, 2025 at https://conferences.lu.lv/event/761/registrations/ to save with Early Bird Rates!
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Dear friends of Dual Career,
Dual career represents a tremendous opportunity to empower sportspersons through an effective mentor-mentee relationship, which is the key aim of the ERASMUS+Sport DC MENTOR project (101132309).
On behalf of the EAS Executive Committee, I inform you that the 17th EAS Virtual Cafè on “Dual Career Mentors and Mentees getting ready for the next academic year” will be held on Monday July 7, 2025 (from 12:00 CET).
12:00 Welcome – Prof. Alejandro Leiva Arcas, UCAM, Murcia, Spain
Secretary of the Faculty of Sport at UCAM; Member of the Erasmus+DC Mentor project.
12:10 21st Century skills for dual career athletes – Kivanc Semiz, PhD, RTEU, Rize,Turkiye
Associate Professor of physical education and sport sciences at RTEU with a research focus on dual careers in sport, physical education with digital technology, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions and practices in the field.
12:25 Mentors-mentees interaction: An innovative approach – Gamze Aydin, Project coordinator at Sports Tech Turkiye, Kirklareli, Turkiye
Coordinator of EU-funded projects at Sports Tech Türkiye with an interest in sports technology for dual-career development to empower student-athletes through education and mentoring on new and future skills in the sports industry.
12:40 The DC MENTOR platform: Future skills for dual career – Kamil Kazim Sari, Collective Innovation, Oslo, Norway.
Board Member of Teach The Future (TTF) Global and Member of TTF Turkey Hub, World Future Society, Association of Professional Futurists, and Global Sports Innovation Centers, acting as consultant and investor on sports technology and AI applications in Oslo and Madrid, and satellite-based global connectivity infrastructures in Italy.
12:55 General discussions and concluding remarks
You can join the Zoom Meeting at : https://uni-lj-si.zoom.us/j/95198051181
Information will be available also at www.dualcareer.eu. Feel free to share this information with your colleagues, students, coaches, sports managers, etc.
Should you have any additional request or question, you can contact me.
We wish you a great week and we look forward to meeting you for this important dual career event!
On June 30, 2025, EAS in cooperation with Mr. Envic Galea (IJF Academy) organized the Smart Start for Dual Career (SS4DC) motivational workshop at the Malta Judo Academy. Overall, 29 participants attended the event, 13 youth student-athletes and 16 adults (parents/judo coaches and judo managers). In a country where dual career is at its infancy level, the Smart Start 4 DC motivational workshop represented an important event to raise the awareness of the youth athlete’s right to combine academic and sport commitments and to prepare them for future transition at higher education and/or working levels.
Initially, basic information on the importance of dual career for personal and future professional perspectives of athletes was provided. Some of the youth athletes as students indicated their favorite profession and the relative requirements. A short discussion regarding the relevance of soft skills in managing their future career followed. In presenting the aims, structure and contents of the SS4DC platform, the participants particularly appreciated the possibility to freely navigate the modules and the project website (www.SS4DC) containing more information of their interest. Surely, the presence of parents and coaches was crucial to engage the most relevant actors of the athletes’ entourage in supporting the efforts of the youth athletes during their dual career paths. In particular, their interest in the SS4DC platform and its contents might further support the future engagement of youth athletes in the mooc SS4DC educational programme, which is expected next September 2025.
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.
We are delighted to invite you to the 22nd Annual Conference of the European Athlete as Student (EAS) Network, taking place from 6–8 October 2025 in Riga, Latvia, and hosted by the University of Latvia. The university takes pride in its rich tradition of supporting elite student-athletes who have represented both the institution and Latvia on the global stage.
Each year, the EAS Conference provides an engaging platform for knowledge exchange between representatives from sports federations, academic institutions, ERASMUS+ project partners, and dual career professionals. The event promotes collaboration, the presentation of scientific research, and the sharing of best practices.
This years theme “Dual Career of Elite Athletes: Integrating Sport and Education for Future Success” will focus on how education systems and sports institutions can work hand in hand to create a sustainable future for elite athletes. Participants will explore innovative strategies and policy frameworks to better support athletes’ academic and athletic development.
The open and friendly atmosphere of EAS Conferences consistently leads to new initiatives, enhanced cooperation, and long-lasting professional connections. We look forward to hosting a productive and inspiring conference and seeing you soon in Riga.
the EAS conference website: https://eas2025.lu.lv/
The 17th EAS Virtual Cafè on “Dual Career Mentors and Mentees getting ready for the next academic year” will be held on Monday July 7, 2025 (from 12:00 CET).
Dual career represents a tremendous opportunity to empower sportspersons through an effective mentor-mentee relationship, which is the key aim of the ERASMUS+Sport DC MENTOR project (101132309).
On behalf of the EAS Executive Committee, I inform you that the 17th EAS Virtual Cafè on “Dual Career Mentors and Mentees getting ready for the next academic year” will be held on Monday July 7, 2025 (from 12:00 CET).
12:00 Welcome – Prof. Alejandro Leiva Arcas, UCAM, Murcia, Spain
12:10 XXI Century skills for dual career athletes – Kivanc Semiz, PhD, RTEU, Rize,Turkiye
12:25 Mentors-mentees interaction: An innovative approach – Gamze Aydin, Project coordinator at Sports Tech Turkiye, Kirklareli, Turkiye
12:40 The DC MENTOR platform: Future skills for dual career – Kamil Kazim Sari, Collective Innovation, Oslo, Norway.
12:55 General discussions and concluding remarks
We look forward to meeting you for this important dual career event
More information will be available at www.dualcareer.eu
REG. NUMBER: Voluntary Organisation registration VO/1270
PIC NUMBER: 913459865
Email: info@dualcareer.eu