Author: duponam
On January 26-27, 2024, the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) hosted the EAS Executive Board. During a two-day meeting, Ole Keldorf, Antonio Figueiredo, and Laura Capranica proposed activity plans of New Generation Committee (Next GEN EAS), the Scientific Committee, and the Communication Committee, respectively.
Updates on the participation of EAS in the ERASMUS+ Capacity Building Sports as Value (101093451 to build the capacity of sport managers and coaches in Balkan region to promote values in and through sport) and in the Collaborative Partnerships (COMPATH, 101050955 – Promoting Employability of Young Student-Athletes through ‘‘Competence Hub on Sport Innovation’’; Talent, 101090147 – Cloud-based education for creative sport talents; DC MENTOR, 101132309 – Enhancing Athlete Employability through Career Mentorship and Education; DiscoverU, 101134052 – Sport and physical activity opportunities for students in higher education; SMART START for DC, 101133555 – To encourage the dual career of young high school athletes aged 14 and 19; FIND ME, 101134043 – to structure an evidence-based European platform specifically tailored for dual career at university level) were shared.
The Board approved unanimously the 2024 activity and financial reports and envisaged the organization of three online cafès (March, June, and November 2024), the first one dedicated to “Students-Athletes facing the Olympic Games Students. Furthermore, the visit of the EAS ExCom Members Ole Keldorf and Risto Keskitalo to the Academy of Physical Education Katowice (Poland) was planned to prepare the 2024 Annual Conference.
On February 27, 2024, the Academy of Physical Education Katowice (Poland) Vice Rector Rajmund Tomik and the Director of international Relations Piotr Rodak welcomed Ole Keldorf and Risto Keskitalo and showed the venue of the 2024 EAS Annual Conference to be held on October 1-3, 2024. The co-operation between EAS and the host was sealed with Rector Grzegorz Juras.
During the well-prepared meeting, the Conference programme and the practical arrangements have been defined to provide the best opportunities for a EAS members to have a great time in Katowice.
The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the EAS Conference in Katowice, the European City of Science in 2024, is a special opportunity to highlight the contribution of dual career of sportspersons to the advancement of a European culture in and through sports on all aspects of life. In fact, the Conference is dedicated to “Dual career at school and university – innovative bridges between sport and education”
Further information of the 2024 Conference is available at https://eas24.awf.katowice.pl
On February 15, 2024, the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education of the University of Nis (Serbia) organized the kick-off meeting of the FIND ME project. The project leader is the University of Nis faculty of Sport and Physical education (Serbia) and partners are the University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti (Italy), University of Ljublana (Slovenia), University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza,” Iaši (Romania), International University of La Rioja SA (Spain), OKKAM SRL (Italy), The European Athlete as Students – EAS (Malta) and Collective Innovation AS NO (Norway).The project will be implemented until 2027 with the primary aim to structure an evidence-based European platform specifically tailored for sportspersons looking for the best option dual career to enroll at university level in Europe, in line with the recommendations of the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes. The partners of the FIND ME consortium will bring together a solid experience in dual career networks at national, European, and International networks, the experience of the Italian dual career university platform (https://www.unisport-italia.it/en/dual-career/), the European Minimum Study on the minimum quality requirements for dual career services, the Research for cult committee qualifications/dual careers in sports, the participation in the More Then Gold guidelines as well as in several European dual career projects. Universities and organizations from various European countries will be invited to participate in the FIND ME project, whch could provide them a high visibility of their educational offer and dual career policies.
In the FIND ME project, EAS is represented by Laura Capranica, Ilvis Abelkalns and Antonio Figueiredo.
On January 30, 2024, the EAS President Laura Capranica and Treasurer Mojca Doupona attended with more than 500 participants the Erasmus+ Sport InfoDay organized in Brussels, with others following the event in an streaming modality. Recordings of the main sessions are available at https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/events/info-session-erasmus-sport-2024-2024-01-30_en, whereas further information on the Erasmus+ Programme is available in the Guide provided in 24 languages at https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide.
European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) Acting Director opened the event with Mrs. Iliana Ivanova (European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth) and Mr. Pierre-Yves Jeholet (representative of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council).
Two plenary sessions were scheduled in the morning, whereas in the afternoon three parallel session and a final plenary session were organized. In the first plenary session, Yves Le Lostecque (Head of Erasmus+ Mundus & Sport Unit, EACEA), Gael Broze (Head of Erasmus+ Sport Sector, EACEA) and Mr. Luciano Di Fonzo, (Deputy Head of Erasmus+ Mundus & Sport Unit, EACEA) introduced the ERASMUS+ Sport Programme, whereas Pawel Jesien (Polish Athletic Association) and Hebe Schaillee (Free University of Brussels) reported their experiences. In the second plenary session, Florencia Van Houdt, (Head of Sport Unit, DG EAC, European Commission), Milena de Murga, (Union of Sport Federations of Catalunya), Carlotta Giussani (European Olympic Committee EU Office), Vassos Koutsidoundas (Cyprus Sports Organisation) and Anna Merlini (Italian Canoe Kajak Federation) addressed the Erasmus+ Sport Policy priorities.
In the afternoon, the three parallel sessions focused on how to apply for Erasmus+ KA2 sport actions, on how to present project proposals, and on how to present a Capacity Building proposals. Among the EU funding opportunities in sports presented in the last plenary session, the Share 2.0 initiative was explained by Luciano Di Fonzo (Deputy Head of Erasmus+ Mundus & Sport Unit at EACEA) and Olivier Smith (Deputy Head of Unit Sport Policy at DG EAC of the European Commission); the Erasmus+ KA1 mobility of sport staff was illustrated by Violeta Birzniece (Sport Unit at DG EAC of the European Commission), and the Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions in the field of sport were described by Izabela Pelczynska (Erasmus+ Sport Sector at EACEA presented Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions in the field of sport).
Iban Garcia del Blanco (Member of the European Parliament) and Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen (Director General of DG EAC of the European Commission) highlighted the increased budget allocated to sport-specific EU policies in practices, and the growing interest and variety of applications to the funding opportunities in sports.
A special recognition was attributed to Yves Le Lostecque (Head of Erasmus+ Mundus & Sport Unit at EACEA and former Head of Sport Unit at DG EAC of the European Commission), who announced his retirement after having greatly contributed to the development of key European sport initiatives.
The deadline for ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Parnerships and Capacity Building project applications is March 5, 2024.
Talent project
We are delighted to bring you the latest developments from the TALENT project, specifically highlighting the strategic endeavors of Work Package 3 spanning from February 2023 to March 2024.
E-STOP platform:
The E-STOP online platform is now operational at talent-edu.eu, marking a pivotal milestone in our pursuit of excellence. Unveiled during the Project Meeting in Athens (November 2023), the platform, championed by the Centre of Excellence of Split-Dalmatia County, boasts interactive features designed to provide comprehensive guidelines and recommendations to registered profiles.
Our commitment extends beyond the platform’s functionality. All project partners have unanimously agreed to contribute to the development of a robust database featuring key service providers specializing in talent identification and orientation within their respective countries. This collaborative effort aims to establish a cross-border network of expertise.
Methodological Handbook Unveiled
In alignment with the impactful outcomes of Work Package 2, the TALENT project Consortium proudly presents the Methodological Handbook. This meticulously crafted document sets forth Standards for the Detection and Assessment of the Potential of Talented Children in Sport. Validated by experts from the fields of sport and education, the Handbook adopts a longitudinal approach, delineating key phases in the talent development process, from animation for sports to talent confirmation and transfer.
The Handbook underscores the imperative of synergy between the biological, psychological, and sociological domains of an individual. Anchored in the Positive Youth Development concept, it emphasizes a holistic approach to talent cultivation.
Drawing inspiration from the Methodological Handbook, the development of educational and training materials for Work Package 4 is well underway. These materials will be presented and discussed during the upcoming project meeting scheduled for June 2024 in Cyprus.
We invite you to stay engaged with us as we continue to navigate the intricate landscape of talent development through the TALENT project. Your ongoing support is instrumental in shaping a future where every talent finds its optimal expression.
On December 18-20, 2023, the European University Sport Association (EUSA) Institute organized in Val di Zoldo, Italy, the kick-off meeting of the DiscoverU Collaborative Partnership, in conjunction with the European University Winter Championships & EUSA Winter Forum.
The consortium is coordinated by EUSA Institute includes Croatian Academic Sports Federation, UniSport Heart Foundation (CRO), Hungarian University Sports Federation – MEFS (HUN), the Akademcki Zwiazek Sportowy -AZS (POL), the University of Salerno and FederCUSI (ITA), and EAS (MLT). DiscoverU will gather information on sport and physical activity opportunities for students in higher education and will share good practice examples for university sport and dual career support in the partner countries. To enhance sport participation and active lifestyles of university students the partner organizations will engage in blended learning, share experiences, gain new information and skills.
Dear Dual Career Friends and Colleagues,
Christmas is a time for love, reflection on recent activities, inspiration and hope to renew our good will toward dual career. The sportspersons need dual career to contribute greatly to the society and our singular mission is to improve their opportunities to combine and progress their sports, education, and working life.
In the past months EAS continued the discussion of specific dual career issues through virtual cafes dedicated to the educational and employment perspectives, dual career as a means of European sports diplomacy, and the alignment of sports and working values. Furthermore, a large participation to the 20th EAS Conference in Gaeta, Italy, substantiated the growing interest in uncovering dual career aspects and stimulating a fruitful dialogue for the promotion of wellbeing of the sportspersons. Surely, proposals from our members for addressing new topics will be greatly appreciated.
In agreement with the aims of the Network, in 2023 EAS contributed to the finalization of three very successful ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnerships dedicated to empower dual career athletes with entrepreneurship skills (ELCAMP), para-sports (Para-Limits), and the employee-sportspersons (BRAVA-DC), to the first phases of a Collaborative Partnerships dedicated to (Talent), and a Capacity Building (Sports as Value), and in the 2004 it will be involved in new ones (DC Mentor, DiscoverU, FIND ME, and Smart Start for DC). Furthermore, EAS also contributed to the publications of the book “A holistic approach to the dual career of the student-athlete”, a paper on the self-perception of dual career developed during the Para-Limits project published on a peer-review journal.
During this year, EAS consolidated fruitful partnerships with International Organizations in Sports through the participation in relevant events organized at European (e.g, Erasmus+ Infoday, 2023 European Sport Forum, Bureau of the “Consultative Committee of EPAS – Council of Europe”, Dual Career Day at the University of Naples, Italy)) and international (2023 Sport Forum, Soochow University, China) levels. Finally, a Memorandum of Understanding between EAS and the Italian Scientific Society of Movement and Sports (SISMES) was signed, and the President of EAS received a Medal of Appreciation from EUSA for her dedication to dual career.
During the Annual General Assembly held in Gaeta, Italy, the analysis of the responses to the EAS survey relative to the past and future actions of EAS was discussed to direct the Strategic Plan for the 2023-2026 quadrennium to be presented during the 2024 EAS Conference to be held in Katowice, Poland.
As we enter the New Year, we shall reaffirm our determination to support dual career sportspersons with great enthusiasm and passion. We are grateful to work with such a dedicated community and we are looking forward to remaining inspired by renewing the 2024 EAS membership through the link http://www.dualcareer.eu/membership/.
We extend our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a bright New Year to you and your beloved ones.
The EAS Board
On December 16, 2023, the University of Soochow, China, organized an international meeting with the Chrles University of Prague, The University of Rome Foro Italico and the University of Taipei, followed y a Sport Forum during which Prof. Laura Capranica, President of EAS, presented the European dual career policies and activities.
Among the efforts of the European Commission in supporting Collaborative Partnerships and Capacity Building projects, the projects on dual career financed in the last decade were illustrated.
Furthermore, the role and contribution of EAS in addressing specific dual career issues in past, present, and future EU-funded projects were highlighted, also envisaging possible cooperation with non-European countries. In fact, dual career could be considered a valuable means for sport diplomacy to improve the dialogue, relations, and cultural exchanges between countries.
Coordinated by the University of Limerick (IRE) in cooperation with EAS (MLT), Elite Sports Academy Aarhus – ESAA (DEN), European University Sports Association Institute – EUSA (SLO), European Platform for Sports and Innovation – EPSI (BEL), Human Age Institute Foundation (ITA), Roma Tre University (ITA), University of Ljubljana (SLO), and University of Nis (SRB), after three years the Brand Values Alignment through Dual Career (BRAVA) project, co-funded by the European ERASMUS+Sport Programme (622824-EPP-1-2020-1-IE-SPO-SCP), has come to its end. On December 12, 2023, EPSI hosted the last transnational meeting of BRAVA-DC in Brussels (BEL) to discuss the achieved outcomes and to foresee further development in the dual career of the employee-sportsperson. Despite the pandemic challenges, the consortium successfully accomplished important steps in uncovering the evidence and eminence of the dual career at the workplace, which were summarized in scientific contributions, and a report with 16 guidelines and an evaluation tool available at https://edu.bravadualcareer.eu.
In the afternoon, more than 30 in-person and 100 online participants attended the Final Conference of BRAVA-DC, which was organized in conjunction with the 11th EAS online Cafè. Alberto Bichi (Director of EPSI) welcomed the participants on behalf of the hosting organization and project consortium, and Prof Ciaran Mac Donncha (Coordinator, University of Limerick) illustrated the main outcomes and findings of the project.
Dr. Kolë Gjeloshaj (Strategic coordinator at the European Fair-Play Movement – EFPM), previous Chair of the International Fair-Play Committee – CIFP) Scientific Committee, Scientific Collaborator at the Institute of Sociology of the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Vice-President of the Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles and Belgium) emphasized the relevance of values for dual career, which need more reflections and future actions.
Navy Officer Florentia Sfakianou (Olympian and Public Affairs Officer at International Military Sports Council – CISM), presented the dual career opportunities offered by military sports to actual and former athletes and the efforts of CISM in organizing one of the largest global sports events.
Dr. Ignazio Cocchiere (Policy officer in the Sport Unit of the European Commission’s department for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport – DG EAC, and soccer player) highlighted the European values and priorities in the field of sport, including the importance of dual career from the viewpoint of the EU and Sport Unit. He also offered his personal dual career experience as a professional football player in Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, and as an employee at the EU institutions.
More information on BRAVA-DC project is available at www.bravadualcareer.eu.
OPENING FOR DUAL CAREER MENTOR CENTER IN LATVIA
On December 12, in the city restaurant “Lapsas Māja”, members of the Latvian University Sports Federation (LUSF) together with his colleagues and representatives of the sports industry opened the Dual Career Mentor Center (DCMC).
At the event, LUSF presented DCMC’s Informative publication “Dual Career Challenges and Options”. The authors of the informative edition are LASS president, Agita Abele, LU professor Anna Liduma, Head of the Department of Teacher Education of the University of Latvia Ilvis Abelkalns, and LSPA Ph.D. student Sofia Spidola Martinsone.
Today, sports and education are two essential areas of personal and professional growth in self-realization. Dual career issues are becoming more and more relevant around the world, especially in youth education, when high school graduates start planning their sports life career, wanting to connect it with education and learning a profession at a university.
An informative – educational publication on Dual career opportunities has been created by the Latvian Student Sports Union (LASS) and the International Student Sports Federation (FISU) within the cooperation project and it can be used by anyone interested in a dual career and the possibilities of realizing it in sports and educational careers.
The event was opened by LASS president Agita Ābele, emphasizing Latvia’s current situation and especially the importance of Dual careers today. Member of the 14th SAEIMA Davis Martins Daugavietis, chairman of the sports subcommittee, emphasized personalities and the importance of competencies and diverse resources, thus motivating the further development of sports and supporting student-athletes in their growth towards academic and chosen excellence in the professional sector.
LASS members and guests discussed future ideas and possibilities in anticipation of the anniversary methods for their effective implementation and various upcoming changes in sports and education in question.
DKMC Informative edition is available on the website: https://studentusports.lv/duala-
career-3/
Information prepared by
Sports Union of Latvian Universities
Between 19-22 November, the second workshop was organized, this time by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina. OPES Italia was in charge of creating valuable and useful workshop content which they had planned based on the feedback of the participants. The partners have expressed their need that they would like to enable their participants with more project management skills which help them in the future to run similar projects like Sports As Value.
Besides focusing on technical skills such as project design, implementation, budget monitoring, coordination and evaluation systems, the objective of the workshop was to draft a base of a sustainable grassroots sports event management guideline, as well as to start to form the joint actions. The partners have been paired up to organize cooperatively events in their countries about value promotion and sports. The common work will also enhance their relationship for future cooperation. They are also encouraged to help each other as they own diverse useful competencies.
In the upcoming period, the project team will finalise the guidelines and the plan for the joint activities in the Western Balkan region. The next in-person meeting will happen in Montenegro in June when the Olympic Committee will show us how to deliver a sustainable grassroots sports event locally about values in sport.
REG. NUMBER: Voluntary Organisation registration VO/1270
PIC NUMBER: 913459865
Email: info@dualcareer.eu