EU Projects
Online Transnational Meeting of the FIND ME Project
On July 22, 2026, the FIND ME Erasmus+ consortium held an online project meeting attended by all the representatives of the partner institutions. The meeting focused on reviewing the current status of project implementation, monitoring progress across the ongoing work packages, and coordinating the next steps necessary for the successful achievement of project objectives.
During the meeting, partners provided updates on their respective activities and discussed the implementation of the current work packages and related project deliverables. Particular attention was given to the progress achieved so far, the challenges encountered, and the upcoming deadlines. The consortium confirmed that the project is progressing according to the planned timeline, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining close communication and coordination among partners during the forthcoming implementation period.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the further development of the FIND ME online platform and the network of universities and faculties involved in supporting the dual career of student-athletes. Partners analysed the current number of registered higher education institutions, exchanged experiences regarding institutional outreach, and agreed on additional activities aimed at encouraging more universities and faculties to join the platform. Increasing the visibility and geographical coverage of the platform was identified as one of the key priorities for the coming months.
The meeting concluded with an overview of the agreed action points, responsibilities, and deadlines. All partners reaffirmed their commitment to the successful implementation of the FIND ME project and to strengthening collaboration in promoting sustainable dual career opportunities for student-athletes across Europe. The outcomes of the FIND ME project will be presented during the upcoming EAS Annual Conference to be held in Oulu, Finland next October 5-7, 2026.
The FIND ME project 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 July 19, 2026, the last in-person meeting of the Erasmus+Sport Collaborative Parnership Discovering University Sport and Supporting Dual Career (DiscoverU) was organized in Salerno during the 2026 EUSA Games.
Coordinated by the European University Sports Association (EUSA) Institute, the consortium encompassed the European Athlete Student (EAS) network, the Croatian Academic Sports Federation (CASF / HASS), the Hungarian University Sports Federation (HUSF / MEFS), the University Sports Association of Poland (AZS), and the University of Salerno (Italy) in cooperation with CUS Salerno.
During the 3-year of the project life course, European university sports administrators and dual-career experts aimed to promote healthy academic lifestyles by introducing new sports activities and to support the dual career of student athletes reinforcing the university systems.
In Salerno, partners reviewed the local sport activities and the events initiated and progressed during the project, highlighted the evolution of the university dual career systems at national levels, and fine-tuned upcoming project deliverables.
The participants had also the opportunity to attend the EUSA Forum and the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 EUSA Games.
The DiscoverU project 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 July 20, 2026, the University of Salerno (Unisa) hosted a panel on Student-Athletes and Dual Career, within the framework of the European University Games 2026. After offering a concise overview of European approaches to dual career, personalized academic pathways, and the psychological and institutional conditions that support student-athletes, Prof. Francesca D’Elia (Unisa) moderated the panel of leading experts in sport policy, higher education, and wellbeing.
Laura Capranica (EAS President) highlighted the European policy framework connecting sport, education, and health. She emphasized cooperation among institutions, cultural diversity across Member States, and the need for structured dialogue between sport and education stakeholders. Speciafically for the University context, she highlighted the relevance of the European cooperation projects Give Sport a Say under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV), and the Collaborative Partnerships DiscoverU, Edmedia, Find Me, More Than Gold, and Runners4All under the ERASMUS+Sport.
Andreas Csonka (EUSA EUSA Executive Committee Member) framed dual career as a wellbeing, education, and talent policy, stressing predictable flexibility, full academic choice, and institutional reliability. He underlined the role of EUSA in enforcing the European principles: flexibility in models, consistency in outcomes, and no forced dropout.
Gaetano Raiola (Pegaso University) presented the transition from the school Personalized Learning Pathway (PFP) to university dual career programs. He illustrated regulatory tools, flexible exam scheduling, tutoring schemes, and the recognition of certified sporting activities through Italian Ministerial Decree 931/2024, enabling coherent and personalized academic pathways.
Ruggero Andrisano Ruggieri (Unisa) explored the psychological dimension of dual career through the “Double Family” construct, describing relational tensions between family, sport, and university. He proposed the university as a third space supporting autonomy, coordination, and wellbeing through mapping, clarification, direct communication, and monitoring.
Antonella Apicella, Captain of Salernitana Women Soccer Team, presented the challenges and opportunities of a university student-athlete, offering further for the implementation of dual career support policies and provisions.
The discussion reinforced a shared message: dual career requires coordinated systems, personalized pathways, and attention to wellbeing. The University of Salerno expressed its commitment to advancing dual career initiatives and exploring a dedicated institutional regulation aligned with European recommendations and the mission of EAS and EUSA.
The DiscoverU, EdMedia, Find Me, Give Sport a Say, More Than Gold, and Runners4All projects are 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 July 18 2026, the University of Salerno in cooperation with CUS Salerno hosted the 2026 EUSA Forum “Empowering University Sport: Grassroots & Innovation” attended by representatives from universities, university sports organisations, and international partners who have the responsibility to enhance the impact of sports knowledge and best practices to foster healthy lifestyles in the academic environments and the society at large.
The President of EUSA, Mr. Haris Pavletic, welcomed the participants and presented the EUSA’s 2025-2029 strategic vision, particularly focused on the development of the students’ health, education, and personal development in and through sport. The University of Salerno Rector, Prof. Virgilio D’Antonio, and the President of CUS Salerno, Mr. Lorenzo Lentini, emphasized their satisfaction in hosting the EUSA Games for the first time in Italy, which could promote a strong legacy for enhancing physical activity and healthy behaviours in the Campania population.
The keynote speech of Mr. Antonio Parrilla, Italy’s Representative at the Council of Europe’s EPAS Governing Board Bureau, presented the relevance of the Revised European Sports Charter and its values of integrity, inclusion, and human dignity, which should be supported by institutional responsibility and structural funding.
The Forum encompassed two panel discussions. The first panel focused the future of inclusive and sustainable university sport with the contribution of Mr. Vincenzo Cusati, Sport Educator and Mental Coach from CUS Salerno, Mr. Peter Juhasz, Secretary General of the Hungarian University Sports Federation (MEFS), Mrs. Marija Panijan from the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, Mrs. Marianna Pikul from the University Sports Association of Poland (AZS), and Mr. Liam Smith, EUSA Director of Sports Events, moderated by Mr. Andrej Pisl EUSA Director of Projects & Policy. The discussion presented the importance of innovation, supportive policy frameworks, scientific data and international cooperation for enhancing grassroots sport engagement of the majority of sedentary university students and for preventing academic or sport dropout of athletes through dual career programmes.
The second panel focused on the strengthening the long-term impact of university sport through institutional cooperation with the contribution of Prof. Francesco Paolo Adorno, Rector’s Delegate for University Sports Policy and Relations with CUS at the University of Salerno, Mr. Bruno Barracosa, EUSA 1st Vice-President and former President of the Portuguese University Sports Federation, Prof. Laura Capranica, President of the European Athlete Student (EAS) network, Mr. Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), and Mr. Philippe Housiaux, President of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM), moderated by Mr. Andreas Csonka, EUSA Executive Committee Member. Key themes explored the needs of students in a fast changing society, the effective approaches to elicit active lifestyles in the academic environment, the cooperation of different stakeholders in sharing visions and responsibilities, and the importance to monitor progress. The relevance of monitoring the efficacy of policies and services for allowing students to combine sport, study, and social life was highlighted, as well as the need of cooperation to share best practices across Europe for enhancing fair play, safeguarding, ethical governance, and supportive environments.
On 9–10 June 2026, the FIND ME: University Dual Career Opportunities Erasmus+ Sport project consortium gathered in Trento, Italy, for a productive two-day transnational meeting hosted by the Partner OKKAM SRL. Representatives of all consortium organizations attended the meeting, reaffirming their strong commitment to supporting dual career opportunities for university student-athletes across Europe.
During the meeting, partners reviewed the progress achieved throughout the project and conducted a comprehensive analysis of the completed deliverables. Particular attention was given to the outcomes produced within the various work packages, including research activities, stakeholder engagement, development of educational resources, and the digital platform being developed to support student-athletes in balancing academic and sporting commitments.
The consortium also discussed the final phase of project implementation and agreed on the key actions required in the coming months. Partners identified remaining tasks, established timelines for their completion, and coordinated efforts to ensure the successful achievement of all project objectives before the project’s conclusion. Special emphasis was placed on dissemination activities, sustainability measures, and the promotion of project results among universities, sports organizations, policymakers, and student-athletes.
A significant focus of the meeting was the further development and launch of the FIND ME online platform. This project is particularly important and innovative because it aims to create the first European-wide online platform dedicated to dual career opportunities for student-athletes. By bringing together information on educational pathways, support services, career opportunities, and good practices from different countries, the platform will provide a unique resource for student-athletes, universities, employers, and sports organizations throughout Europe.
Universities willing to enhance the visibility of their Dual Career programmes and/or services and provisions for athletes can share information by completing in about 5-10 minutes a short survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepAQGxS_ftTyxQwCancqkbVibF6uYrKiQh99K1w_dTb7pgxg/viewform
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for partners to exchange experiences, share good practices, and strengthen collaboration. The positive atmosphere and active participation of all consortium members contributed to constructive discussions and effective planning for the final stage of the project.
The FIND ME consortium remains dedicated to enhancing dual career support systems and creating sustainable opportunities that enable student-athletes to succeed both in education and in sport, while establishing a lasting European legacy through this pioneering digital platform.
The FIND ME platform will be presented at the 23rd EAS Conference to be held in Oulu, Finland next October 5-7, 2026 where presentations of dual career progress in Europe will be shared and the EAS Bord election for the 2027-2030 term will take place (information available at https://www.dualcareer.eu/call-for-abstracts-and-nominations-for-eas-presidency-and-executive-board-members-for-the-2027-2030-term/).
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.
The 21st EAS Virtual Cafè on “Dual career in Sport, the Spirit of Humanity: Protecting the Sport Person” will be organized online next May 18 (Monday), 2026 at 13:00 (CET).
This event is organized in conjunction with the European projects FOCUS (ERASMUS-SPORT-2025-SCP-101243801) and “Give Sport a Say” (CERV-101253838). Whilst FOCUS aims to establish an innovative and scalable Dual Career co-created framework, ensuring that elite football players can successfully transition from youth to professional sport levels while maintaining educational and career opportunities, Give Sport a Say aims to foster the civil dialogue on future of sport policy in connection with health, equality and youth, Therefore, your participation for the advancement of the European sport dialogue will be highly appreciated.
Programme:
13:00 Welcome – Moderator
Mrs. Olga Papale, PhD Europaeus
Mrs. Olga Papale, kinesiologist. In 2025 she has been awarded the Bengt Nybelius Scholarship and the Special Mention as Youth Researcher by the Italian Society of Sport and Movement Sciences (SISMES). Her research focuses on physical activity, health promotion, outdoor exercise, and student-athlete wellbeing, with particular attention to dual career pathways and sustainable sport participation.
13:05 ”Building the FOCUS project on identified needs and evidence”
Mr. Aki-Matti Alanen, PhD
Mr. Aki-Matti Alanen, kinesiologist. He is the Sports Development Manager at the Kolmen Kampuksen Urheiluopisto OY – Sport Institute of Three Campuses (KKU), Finland, with responsibility for research, development, innovations, coach education, planning and utilization. In working closely with elite youth athletes through coaching support, well-being, testing and training, and career progression, within the FOCUS project Mr. Aki-Matti Alanen has analysed the current state of dual career in European Nordic countries,
13:15 ”Give Sport a Voice, Give Athletes a Future: Dual Career & Human Dignity in Sport”
Mrs. Sara Massini
Mrs. Sara Massini, psychologist, is the head of European and International affair department of OPES, Italian umbrella organization for grassroots sport under the Italian Olympic Committee structure. Former secretary general of ENGSO and youth leader within the Italian youth Council and European youth forum, she has a long experience in advocacy, policy and project management in the areas of sport and youth both at National and European levels. For OPES, Mrs. Sara Massini is the leader of the Give Sport a Say project.
13:25 “Dual career across a Portuguese football club”
Mr. Francisco Graça
Mr. Francisco Graça is a UEFA C Football Coach, assistant coach and physical trained of youth soccer players at the professional football club Associação Académica de Coimbra, Portugal, he is enrolled at the MSc in Sports Training of the University of Coimbra.
13:35 “Beyond the Ice Track: Sport and Dual Career United”
Mr. Ivo Steinbergs
Mr. Ivo Steinbergs, former international skeleton athlete, graduated at the Riga Technical University. With a strong experience in building national programs and preparing athletes for international competitions, he joined Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton as an official coach for the skeleton team during the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games and he is the coach of the Skeleton Latvian Team qualified for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. S Mr. Ivo Steinbergs has a strong background in programming performance development, track preparation, and athlete development systems.
13:45 “Nothing Is Guaranteed in Sports: Why Athletes Need a Dual Career”
Mr. Janis Leitis
Olympic track and field athlete and Latvian national record holder in the 400-meter sprint, Mr. Janis Leitis is a nutrition specialist with a professional experience in relation to physical health, physical exercise, and recovery processes. He is a Lecturer at the Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia.
13:55 General discussions and invitation to the EAS Annual Conference and elections to be held in Oulu, Finland on October 5-7, 2026.
You can join the Zoom Meeting at https://uni-lj-si.zoom.us/j/97371548061 (Meeting ID: 97371548061).
On April 15 and 16, 2026, EAS was invited to attend the annual EU Sport Forum “Values, Inclusion, and Wellbeing” organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth in Phapos, Cyprus.
Mr. Normunds Popens ‐ Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC) of the European Commission, and Mr. Marios Panayides ‐ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Cyprus, welcomed delegated of leading sport organisations, sport federations, European networks, and policymakers to the two-day event encompassing keynote speeches, plenary and parallel sessions, and panel discussions on relevant issues of the European Sport Model.
Mrs. Paola Ottomano, Team Leader, Sport Unit of the European Commission, and Mr. Luciano Di Fonzo, Deputy Head of Erasmus Mundus and Sport Unit of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), informed on the strategic vision for sport in Europe, including the results of the public consultation on the European Sport Model.
The thematic discussion of the first day of the event regarded: Removing barriers to women’s sporting success; Rewarding talent in sport: boosting solidarity and competitive balance; Not just medals, rethinking sport for lifelong wellbeing; The future of the European Week of Sport; The future priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council; Uniting the Mediterranean through sport; Mental health in sport: pressure and resilience; Knowledge sharing sessions on good practices from Cyprus; Peer learning activities in Bulgaria and Slovenia; and The project GAIIN from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
On the second day, Mr. Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, presented his personal contribution to key priorities and activities of the European Commission in the field of sport, highlighting the crucial role of physical literacy for lifelong active behaviours and health. This issue was further emphasized during the round table Move more, live better: why movement matters at every age with high-level speakers and contributors. The last two sessions were dedicated to the athletes’ experiences into sport governance roles, and the integrity and investment for the future of European basketball. Final remarks were provided by Mr. Georg Häusler, Director of Culture, Creativity and Sport of the European Commission. Further information and Recordings of the 2026 EU Sport Forum will be available at sport.ec.europa.eu.
During the event, EAS and EUSA also disseminated information on the ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnership “Discovering University Sport and Supporting Dual Career” (DiscoverU), which aims to encourage innovative community engagement in physical activity and healthy lifestyles among university students.
The DiscoverU project is funded by the European Union coordinated by EUSA. 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.
Under the European Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV), EAS joins experienced European partners (Italian Organisation for Sports – OPES Italy, Coordinator; the European Network of Sport Education – ENSE, Austria; the EU Sport Link, Belgium; the European University Sports Association – EUSA Institute, Slovenia; The Association For International Sport for All – TAFISA, Germany; the Sports Federation Union of Catalonia – UFEC, Spain) to promote the European fundamental values, democracy, and human rights, engaging citizens directly with policy-makers in a collective effort to shape the future of European sport policy.
From March 2026 to February 2028, The Give Sport a Say project (CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV-101253838) will implement 16 events across Europe to:
– Inform: Evaluating knowledge and explaining EU decision-making processes.
– Build Capacity: Providing practical skills and deeper insights into human rights in sport.
– Engage: Empowering citizens to contribute to policy dialogues and future EU sport strategies.
To facilitate a thorough discussion and to collect ideas for an advancement of the European culture in and through sports, the activities will be integrated into the regular sporting, educational, and governance events of the Partners.
“Give Sport a Say: give citizens a real say for the future of the EU in and through sports” project is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, within the Citizens engagement call.
The University of Ljubljana hosted the 4th partner meeting of the Erasmus+ project FIND ME Erasmus+ Project on 19 February 2026. The main objective of the project is to develop a European platform to support the dual careers of student-athletes. Representing European Athlete as Student Network (EAS), Ilvis Ābeļkalns and Laura Capranica attended the meeting.
Eight partner organisations from seven countries came together to coordinate the next steps in developing a digital environment that will centralise study programmes tailored to the needs of dual career athletes across Europe.
The project aims to provide a systemic solution for more effective coordination of academic and sporting commitments, while also strengthening international cooperation in supporting dual careers. During the meeting, partners defined concrete development milestones for the continued establishment of the platform, which will offer student-athletes a clear, accessible, and sustainable tool to better plan and manage their dual careers within the European higher education landscape.
On January 22-23, 2026, the KOLMEN KAMPUKSEN URHEILUOPISTO (KKU) organized the kick off meeting of the FOCUS Project at the Kisakallio Sports Institute (Finland). Coordinated by NYSA (Sweden), in cooperation with BK HACKEN (Sweden), RFS Academy (Latvia), LATVIJAS AUGSTSKOLU SPORTA SA VIENIBA (LUSF – Latvia), TURUN KAUPUNKI (Finland), KKU (Finland) and EAS, the FOCUS project aims to establish an innovative and scalable Dual Career co-created framework, ensuring that elite football players can successfully transition from youth to professional sport levels while maintaining educational and career opportunities.
By utilizing the Cynefin framework, athletes and stakeholders will explore decision-making strategies in complex career transitions, with an emphasis on narrative-driven ethnographic research to shape European policy recommendations. Starting from a desk analysis of the football and educational contexts in place in Finland, Latvia, and Sweden, a systematic literature review of dual career in European football, an online survey, and national focus groups, the project will encompass actual testing sessions, and will culminate in the dissemination of practical toolkits, policy guidelines, and a scalable Dual Career model, integrating sport and education to foster athlete success beyond the playing field.
The FOCUS project is funded by the European Union and coordinated by NYSA. 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.
REG. NUMBER: Voluntary Organisation registration VO/1270
PIC NUMBER: 913459865
Email: info@dualcareer.eu