Between October 5 and 7, the 23rd Annual European Athlete as Student (EAS) Conference and General Assembly took place in Oulu, Finland. Among over 100 participants, also the European University Sports Association (EUSA) was actively involved in the event, represented by Andrej Pisl, Director of Projects and Policy.

The annual gathering brought together sports administrators, educators, and researchers dedicated to the advancement of dual career support for student-athletes across Europe. Hosted by the City of Oulu, 2026 European Capital of Culture, and the Kastelli Upper Secondary Sport School at the Lasaretti Conference Center, this year's edition placed a special spotlight on Nordic dual career systems and transitions between educational levels. While the conference had a wider European scope, dedicated sessions shed light on supportive frameworks in Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

The official opening ceremony featured welcome greetings from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Olympic Committee, as well as EAS. The rich three-day programme offered engaging discussions on dual career pathways, insights into Elite Athlete Friendly Universities, and an inspiring session titled "What the Game Taught Us" with former professional ice hockey players and Olympic medallists Lasse Kukkonen and Jussi Jokinen.

Participants engaged in keynote plenary lectures, various parallel sessions and workshops, including the "Give Sport a Say" presentation workshop, co-facilitated by OPES, EAS, EUSA and TAFISA. Give Sport a Say, co-funded by the European Union, is a project under the CERV programme, where EUSA and EAS are actively cooperating to empower athletes and sporting communities through direct participation in decision-making. The conference was also an opportunity to highlight the "DiscoverU" project, another successful cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union, with EUSA and EAS engagement, that is proudly concluding this year.

The academic sessions covered diverse topics, including sessions on the dual career status in the Nordic countries, as well on the Brazilian dual career system, the 5Cs Sports Psychology Framework, several projects, research and studies.

A highlight of the conference was also the presentation of the prestigious Bengt Nybelius Award, recognising outstanding young researchers in the field of dual career.

On the final day of the Conference, attendees experienced practical examples of dual career implementation by visiting the Kastelli Upper Secondary Sports School, where they were familiarisd with their facilities.

The closing day also featured an insightful panel debate that brought together three young Finnish athletes and Glenn Micallef, the EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.

This engaging discussion powerfully linked European policies with the lived experiences of student-athletes, shedding light on the practical impact of institutional frameworks on their daily lives and future transitions. Commissioner Micallef also stressed the importance of European policies, values and priorities, including solidarity and the merit system - also reflected in the European sport model.

As part of the event, the annual EAS General Assembly was held on October 6. A major highlight of the assembly was the election of the new EAS Executive Committee. The members elected Mojca Doupona from Slovenia as the new President of the network, starting the mandate in January 2027.

She will succeed Laura Capranica, who will continue to bring her valuable expertise to the board in the role of Past President. The assembly also allowed members to reflect on the past achievements, review the budget, and discuss the plans for the future. The next EAS Conference was also introduced, to be held in October 2027 in Iasi, Romania.

EUSA and EAS share a strong commitment to the wellbeing of student-athletes and have been proud strategic partners since 2016, collaborating continuously on a strategic and project level to promote dual careers in Europe.

For more information about the European Athlete as Student network and its activities, please visit www.dualcareer.eu.

Group photo and Kastelli visit by Tommi Koivisto