On October 2-4, the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio hosted the 2023 EAS Annual Conference “Promoting wellbeing in dual career” at the Angioino-Aragonese Castle in Gaeta. The participants were welcomed by Prof. Cristina Cortis, Rector Delegate for Sport and President of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Laura Capranica, President of EAS.
The first sessions were dedicated to “EU Sport Policies and Opportunities”, introduced by a video message of MEP Tomasz Frankowski, Rapporteur of “EU sports policy: Assessment and possible ways forward”, who underlined that dual career is no longer considered for athletes only but for all the sportspersons (e.g., coaches, physical trainers, referees, sports managers) struggling to combine their sport commitment with quality education and work careers. The online presentation of Mrs. Izabela Pelczynska, European Education and Culture Executive Agency of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), informed the audience regarding the European policies and funding opportunities for innovative projects in dual career. Mr. Andrea Carletti, Vice-Chair of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) at the Council of Europe and Member of the Sport Department at the Italian Presidency of Council of Ministers, illustrated the role of EPAS and its Consultative Committee of International organizations in supporting the advancement of the sport culture and dialogue, and highlighted the recent approval of the Italian Parliament to include sports in the article 33 of the Italian Constitution, which is dedicated to education and science. The recent celebration of the World Fair Play Day and the introduction of the 365-day calendar of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) were presented by Mr. Ruggero Alcanterini, President of the Italian Fair Play Committee, who invited the participants to attend in streaming the next EFPM conference “Fair Play and Racism” to be held on November 23 in Baku, Azerbaigian.
The dual career activities of major International and European sports associations were illustrated by Mr. William Thompson from the International University Sports Federation – FISU who introduced the FISU DC Toolkit to facilitate the development of dual career globally; Mr. Joerg Förster and Mr. Andrej Pišl from the European University Sport Association – EUSA who reported on the actual sports activities at European level and the current involvement with EAS in EU-funded dual career projects BRAVA-DC (2020-2023) and the DiscoverU to be started next January 2024; and Linda Rombolá from European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation – ENGSO, who presented the Capacity Building project Sports as Values and aiming to foster positive values and enhancing grassroots sports in Western Balkan countries, respectively.
The following session was dedicated to the development of Italian DC policies, including the recent publication of the National DC Guidelines. Prof. Stefania Orrù from the Italian Society of Movement and Sport Sciences – SISMES acknowledged the advances of research in the dual career area and anticipated the signature of a Memorandun of Understanding with EAS during the XIV SISMES Congress (Naples, November 2-4, 2023). Colonel Walter Borghino from the International Military Sport Council and Italian Defence General Staff, illustrated the relevant role of the military sector in supporting sports by providing opportunities of dual career at the workplace, although different arrangements between army corps and countries are in place. Prof Antonio Tessitore, President of the European Network of Sport Education – ENSE and President of the Bachelor Degree in Sports Sciences at the University of Rome Foro Italico, underlined the relevant role of quality education in sports also for elite coaches through the dedicated dual career educational programmes at the Foro Italico University. In considering that EAS, ENSE, and EUSA are members of the Consultative Committee of EPAS – Council of Europe, Prof. Tessitore anticipated the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding. Mr. Marco Arpino from the Italian National Olympic Committee – CONI presented the Italian DC Guidelines developed in cooperation with the Network of Italian Universities interested in sports – UNISPORT Italia, the Italian University Sports Federation – CUSI, and the Italian National Paralympic Committee – CIP, which represent a good practice and a further opportunity to develop dual career policies in Italy. The role of dual career in Italy was further offered by Mr. Carlo Molfetta, Gold Olympic Medalist in Taekwondo at the 2012 London Games and Member of the Italian National Athletes’ Commission at CONI, who highlighted the crucial role of the athletes’ representativeness in sports bodies and the support he received from the Italian Taekwondo Federation – FITA for his dual career in education and work, which allowed him to graduate in higher education while working as a sports manager.
The dedicated session to the 2023 Bengt Nybelius Scholarship was awarded to dr. Alejandro Leiva-Arcas from the Universitad Catolica de Murcia – UCAM for his paper entitled “Perceived Barriers for Student-Athletes with Disabilities: A Comparative Analysis according to the State’s Dual Career Support Policy System”, which offered novel findings from scientific data collected in five countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania and Ireland) during the recently completed EU ERASMUS+Sport project Para-limits aiming to adapt the dual career mentoring model to high-level athletes with disabilities.
The last session of the first day was dedicated to the significant evolution of dual career at seven Italian Universities. In particular, Prof. Giuliana Gobbi illustrated the special dual career financial support at the University of Parma, Prof. Alberto Rainoldi reported on the dual-career programme and the healthy campus at the University of Turin, Prof. Sergio Bellantonio highlighted the positive aspects of a blended learning for dual career students’ wellbeing at the University of Foggia, Prof. Stefano Bastianon from the University of Bergamo proposed an interesting legal approach for the protection of student-athletes taking into consideration the relevance of EU law, Prof. Raymond Siebetcheu introduced a plurilingual dual career education programme at the University for Foreigners of Siena in light of the massive phenomenon of migration, dr. Ida Cariati offered the approach to balanced lifestyles of student-athletes at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Dr. Davide Malacrida presented the state-of-the-art and future challenges for improvements of the dual career programme at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – UCSC, and dr. Francesca Vitali explained the peer-tutoring organized at the University of Verona in cooperation with the University Sport Centre – CUS and the Centre for Educational Rights – ESU to facilitate the organization of individualized study programmes of athletes.
On the second day, Juan-Alfonso Garcia-Roca introduced the session focused on the promotion of wellbeing in dual career through a holistic approach followed by lectures on the potential benefits of quality sleeping strategies for recovery of elite women volleyball student-athletes by dr. Luca Rossini from the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, the role of empowerment for personal development and wellbeing of athletes by Prof. Inga Staškevičiūtė-Butienė from the Lithuanian Sports University, the outcomes of workshops and panels with athletes and entrepreneurs by Prof. Romana Caput-Jogunica from the University of Zagreb and Croatian Olympic Committee, and the recent dual career programme at the Catholic University of Valencia by Jorge Terraces.
Seven presentations highlighted Dual Career Best Practices and Research. Prof. Pertii Huotari from the University of Jyväskylä underlined the relevant role of parents and friends for dual career at high school level, Prof. Piotr Rodak from the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (Poland) illustrated the individual plan and study programmes at his university, Prof. Agita Abele from the Latvian Academy of Sports Education presented the dual career support for student-athletes in Latvia, Prof Pierluigi Diotaiuti from the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio proposed a monitoring tool for the development of a friendly dual career environment, Mr. Aku Nikander from the University of Jyväskylä highlighted the role of developmental evaluation in enhancing dual career environments, Prof. Irena Valantinė from the Lithuanian Sports University posed entrepreneurship and self-employment career options for elite athletes, Prof. Attilio Sacripanti from the International Judo Academy Foundation (IJF) addressed the outcomes of the ERASMUS+Sport project EDJCO on an online educational programme for facilitating the continuous education of employee-judo coaches, and Juan Alfonso Garcia-Roca from UCAM explained the aims and progression of the ERASMUS+Sport Project S4SC Sport for Social Change.
At the end of the morning and afternoon sessions of the second day, the participants contributed to the EAS workshops of the ERASMUS+Sport BRAnd Values Alignment through Dual Career (BRAVA-DC, 622824-EPP-1-2020-1-IE-SPO-SCP) organized by EAS in cooperation with Prof. Giovanni Mattia from University RomaTre and requiring the participants to grade the clarity of the 16 guidelines developed for enhancing dual career at the workplace, and of TALENT project (101090147- ERASMUS-SPORT-2022-SCP) organized by EAS in cooperation with dr. Martina Albanese and dr. Domenico Vicari from the University of Palermo asking participants’ opinions on the most relevant factors for identifying and supporting talents.
Mr. Ole Keldorf, EAS General Secretary, chaired the 2023 Annual General Assembly during which the activities carried out in this year have been summarized and unanimously approved, including the Annual Conference, online cafés, newletters, the participation in and application for European ERASMUS+ Sport Collaborative Partnerships (BRAVA-DC, Compath, DC Mentor, DiscoverU, ElCAMP, Find Me, Para-limits, Smart Start and Talent) and the Capacity Building “Sports as Values”, the cooperation with European institutions, academies, sports bodies, and policy makers, the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Fair Play Movement, and two Memorandum of Understanding to be signed with SISMES and ENSE. The outcomes of the participated survey on EAS Members’, Policy Makers’, and Stakeholders’ opinions regarding the Network vision and activities have been reported, which were precious to define the EAS Strategic Plan for the 2023-2026 quadrennium confirming the previous aims and activities extended also to talents in performing arts. It was announced that the 2024 EAS Conference will be held in Katowice (Poland), and the proposals for the 2026 Conference in Oulu (Finland) and 2027 Conference in Croatia, with an open call for the 2025 Conference. Prof. Mojca Doupona presented the 2022 Financial report, also unanimously approved. At the end of the General Assembly, the EAS members and stakeholders presented their appreciation to the Executive Board for its dedication to the dual career family and Andrej Pisl from EUSA announced that the President of EAS was awarded the “EUSA Medal of Appreciation” for her long-term commitment in EAS.
After the EAS General Assembly, Prof. Rajmund Tomik and Piotr Rozak presented the preliminary information of the 2024 EAS Conferences to be held in Katowice, Poland, which has been awarded the title of European City of Science 2024.
The third day of the event included a tour to the Montecassino Abbey and the closing ceremony at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, with the participation of the President of CUS, and the Paralympic Champion and Lieutenant Colonel of the Italian Army Giuseppe Campoccio, who qualified for Paris 2024.
During the conference breaks, lunches, dinners, the visit to Gaeta and its Serapo beach, and the final tour the participants had plenty of opportunities to interact and envisage new innovative projects to be submitted during the next Call for ERASMUS+Sport Collaborative Partnerships and Capacity Buildings. Also this year, the large delegation of Finnish Rectors and the Brazilian participants confirmed that the EAS Conference is a crucial event to further develop a European dual career discourse in and beyond Europe.
On behalf of the EAS Board, President Capranica thanked the Organizing Committee and the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio staff for their efforts to organize such a wonderful start of the 2023-2026 quadrennium to be continued in Katowice, Poland in 2024.
Further information is available at Instagram and facebook easconference2023
THE FINNISH DELEGATION AT THE EAS CONFERENCE
After the conference in Gaeta, Italy, which focused on dual careers and well-being, we, the representatives of sports academies in Finland, would like to express our gratitude. The conference was a valuable opportunity for us to learn more about how to support young athletes in their pursuit of balancing sports and education.
We want to thank the organizers and all the speakers for their insightful presentations and sharing of best practices. The discussions and exchange of experiences with fellow participants have provided us with new ideas and strategies to help our students achieve both athletic and academic success.
The seminar also offered an opportunity to engage in discussions with representatives from other sports academies and share best practices. This helped us in developing more supportive programs and resources for our students, enabling them to achieve both their athletic and academic goals.
The conference has strengthened our commitment to continue working together to support young athletes in their dual careers and promote their well-being. We look forward to future collaborations and opportunities to share experiences. Thank you for this enriching and inspiring conference.
As the first speaker, Lisa Gjessing presented her experience as a taekwondo athlete who underwent the amputation of her left arm. As a legal prosecutor for the Danish police and mother, Lisa described the opportunities provided by the paralympic sport and her challenges in managing her family life, and sport and working careers. She informed that Team Denmark and ESAA offer the same support to Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as sponsorships and working flexibility. Furthermore, in case the para-athlete decides to reduce the working hours, her/his salary is maintained with integration from the sports organization. Despite this favourable environment, the para-athlete has to make choices to establish priorities and to manage changes in their programme, especially to manage the parental role.
A different perspective was provided by the Italian Flatwater Sprint Paracanoe Kayaker and Paralympic medallist in Tokyo, Federico Mancarella. Having experienced a disability from his birth, Federico started being engaged in the sport when he was a student. Considering that canoeing requires expensive equipment and long travelling to reach the training and competitive sites, the parents often represent the only support providers. Furthermore, the working sector lacks a dual career culture, so the athletes have to consider dropping out of sports or their working career, which was actually his situation when he fired himself to prepare for the Tokyo Paralympics. Furthermore, parasports do not attract sponsorships because of limited media attention. Federico also envisaged some solutions, including working flexibility, economic support from the public and private sectors, and structured support.
