Alongside the competitive events at the European Universities Games 2026 in Salerno (EUG 2026), educational activities are also being implemented, as one of the main pillars of the European University Sports Association (EUSA).

Following the successful EUSA Forum, the educational programme launched its first series of thematic workshops and panels, prepared and hosted on campus by the University of Salerno (UNISA). Over the past three days, nine engaging panels explored diverse areas - including sports psychology, precision health, sports media, and the legal and economic dimensions of athletic performance.

These sessions mark the first part of such educational activities at the EUG 2026, setting the stage for additional panels and workshops scheduled for next week, some co-organized by EUSA, its strategic partners, and the University of Salerno. From each day of the sessions, we selected a topic we would like to highlight, being directly aligned with EUSA’s strategic priorities:

Student-Athlete Dual Career: Focusing on European models, institutional tools, and academic flexibility, the session featured Andreas Csonka, EUSA Executive Committee Member, who presented EUSA's policy vision centered on the principle of flexibility in the model, consistency in the promise. He stressed that dual career policies must protect full academic freedom, allowing athletes to pursue even the most demanding degrees without compromise. Laura Capranica, President of the European Athlete Student (EAS) network, contributed insights into European policy implementation and cross-sector cooperation. Both also mentioned importance of project co-funded by the European Union like Discovering University Sport and Dual Career - DiscoverU, promoting the topic, facilitating exchange and also directly supporting implementation.

Value of sport between health, ethics, and human dignity: The session reflected on the intersection between sports law, constitutional guarantees, and fundamental human rights. Aligned with EUSA values and the promotion of fair play, ethics and safeguarding, sportsmanship and athlete welfare were among the main focal points. In addition to recognizing exceptional acts of sportsmanship through the annual Enno Harms Fair Play Award, EUSA in cooperation with the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) is working on initiatives to additionally protect participants and uphold ethical values. A major milestone in this partnership is the ESSEPA - European Sport Safeguarding Education and Promotion Action project, co-funded by the European Union. ESSEPA promotes safeguarding, ethics, and positive values across university sport by developing an online educational and certification platform for student-athletes, coaches, and university officials which will be launched soon.

One Health in Action: Through exploring the interdependence of human health, nutrition, and sustainable ecosystems, Andrej Pisl, EUSA Director of Project and Policy presented EUSA's Active Campuses, Healthy Futures concept. He advocated for inclusive, community-centered models and activities, highlighting several initiatives co-funded by the European Union and implemented by EUSA, including YouMind - Youth Individual Sports Mindset (on mental health), European Student Cycling Challenge - Cycle2Connect (on active mobility and cycling), Future Links for University Athletes with Sports Clubs Integrating Organised Networks - FUSION (on post-graduation sport retention), and Runners4All - European Students Run (on communities and grassroots running), alongside preliminary research results related to the open survey on physical activity and running.

EUSA extends its gratitude to the University of Salerno for its hospitality and dedication in preparing and hosting these educational activities. With more sessions lined up for the coming week, EUSA and UNISA continue to foster a vibrant learning environment alongside elite athletic competition.

For a detailed overview and more information about the panels and other educational activities during the European Universities Games, see Events at www.eug2026.eu