Dual Career Concept - Transfer of Experience, Synergy of Knowledge

The aim of this project was to contribute to the development of the vocational education and training (VET) system by creating a dual career concept for athletes in Slovakia. We wanted to formulat...

The aim of this project was to contribute to the development of the vocational education and training (VET) system by creating a dual career concept for athletes in Slovakia. We wanted to formulate recommendations for stakeholders to enable transformation and changes at organizational and sectoral levels in the VET field, taking into account labor market needs and employment services aimed at athletes during and after their active sports careers. The main output of the project was a proposal for a dual career concept for athletes, which would include legislative proposals aimed at increasing employability, recognizing qualifications, and skills acquired through formal and non-formal education during and after an active sports career. This output also fulfills the project's goal of creating a dual career concept for athletes, based on recommendations from the European Commission and experiences from Slovenia, containing recommendations for various sectors - government organizations, sports associations, VET providers, employment service providers, career counselors, and other relevant entities.

The project consisted of four main activities with sub-activities, namely data collection, dual career concept development, dissemination, coordination and project management. Data collection included desk-research, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, study visits and workshops. As a result, existing data was collected and an information database for the dual career concept was created. The dual career concept development activity involved the development and formulation of recommendations for the dual career field, resulting in a comprehensive dual career concept for athletes. As part of the dissemination, the project was promoted through all available channels. As a result, awareness was raised and partnerships for the further development of dual careers were created. The coordination and management of the project was directed by the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee. Activities included project management and coordination, preparation of the work plan and logistical support, which led to the effective implementation of project activities and achievement of the set objectives.

A concrete output of the project was the creation of a dual career concept for athletes in the Slovak environment. This concept included recommendations for government organizations, sports associations, vocational education and training (VET) providers, employment services, and career counselors. We based these recommendations on the European Commission's guidelines and experiences from Slovenia. Another important output was obtaining comprehensive information about the dual career situation of athletes from all stakeholders. Data collection and analysis led to the creation of an information database, which included published intellectual outputs in the field of dual careers, recommendations from the European Commission, and statistical data on the target group of athletes. Our activities included organizing workshops and seminars where experts from various fields shared their experiences and knowledge. These events contributed to the formulation of recommendations for the dual career concept and raised awareness of this topic within the sports community. Through these efforts, we not only increased awareness of the importance of dual careers but also established strategic partnerships within the consortium with a future vision