Implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme: A vehicle to help development graduate workplace competencies

  1. JULIE A. BRUNTON 1
  2. FRANCISCO JOSÉ CÁNOVAS-ALVAREZ 2
  3. LOURDES MEROÑO 2
  4. ALEJANDRO LEIVA- ARCAS 2
  5. JOSÉ LUIS ARIAS-ESTERO 2
  6. ELENA CONDE 2
  7. EMANUELE ISIDORI 3
  8. ANDREW DECELIS 4
  9. CHARALAMPOS SAMANTZIS 5
  10. ALPER YILDIZ 6
  11. YELIZ İLGAR DOĞAN 6
  12. ALESSANDRA FAZIO 3
  13. OLIVER MALLIA 4
  14. ATHANASIOS KOUSTELIOS 5
  15. ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ-PATO 2
  1. 1 Sheffield Hallam University
    info

    Sheffield Hallam University

    Sheffield, Reino Unido

    ROR https://ror.org/019wt1929

  2. 2 Universidad Católica San Antonio
    info

    Universidad Católica San Antonio

    Murcia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05b1rsv17

  3. 3 University of Rome – Foro Italico
  4. 4 University of Malta
    info

    University of Malta

    Imsida, Malta

    ROR https://ror.org/03a62bv60

  5. 5 University Of Thessaly
    info

    University Of Thessaly

    Volos, Grecia

    ROR https://ror.org/04v4g9h31

  6. 6 Pamukkale University
    info

    Pamukkale University

    Denizli, Turquía

    ROR https://ror.org/01etz1309

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Journal:
Journal of Human Sport and Exercise: JHSE

ISSN: 1988-5202

Year of publication: 2022

Volume: 17

Issue: 3

Pages: 553-566

Type: Article

DOI: 10.14198/JHSE.2022.173.07 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openRUA editor

More publications in: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise: JHSE

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

This research was part of a large intervention study implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme (ESLP). This paper reports the outcomes of the qualitative study that employed focus groups to assess the students’ perceptions of the 15 competencies determined according to the Framework for qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, before and after the ESLP. Focus groups were carried out at each of the five universities. The ESLP involved university students working as a sports leader for 24 months with the aim to engage more students in university sport, whilst they took part in a graduate employability programme. Each university recruited five sports leaders in their second year at university, to deliver 10 new sport and recreational activities targeting the wider inactive or semi-active student population. Findings highlighted that Organization and planning, Oral and written communication, Development of planning and decision making, and Teamworking, followed closely by Emotional control and Adapting to new situations, were the most commonly reported competencies. They affirmed that this programme had helped to develop these competencies. Use of information, communication and technology, Communication in a foreign language, Research and Emotional control were the most common competencies that students stated they needed to improve further. This research found that implementing the ESLP helped to develop students’ perceptions of their workplace and career competencies. The ESLP is therefore, recommended as one approach to helping universities to develop student’s workplace and career competencies.

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