The International University Sports Federation (FISU) organised the first meeting of its newly created Academic Advisory Board in Lausanne on September 22, 2018.

The meeting took place at FISU Headquarters, in the International University Sports Cluster on the University of Lausanne campus. The event coincided with the Lausanne in Motion Festival, part of the International Day of University Sports celebrations. The Board was created in March this year at the FISU President’s initiative, with the purpose of promoting university sports, the values of Olympic and university sports, and the FISU brand within a larger university community.



The current composition of the Board includes Dr Gianmaria Ajani, Rector of the University of Turin; Dr Nouria Hernandez, Rector of the University of Lausanne; Dr Mark Emmert, President of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA); Dr Daniel Eduardo Martinez, Rector of the National University of La Matanza, proposed by FISU America; Dr Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Johannesburg, proposed by Federation of African University Sports (FASU); Dr Hao Ping, Chairman of University Council, Beijing University, proposed by Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF); Dr Joao Gabriel Silva, Rector of the University of Coimbra, proposed by European University Sports Association (EUSA).

FISU was represented at the meeting by its President Mr Oleg Matytsin, Secretary General Mr Eric Saintrond, Senior Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Education Committee Ms Verena Burk, and Director General Mr Paulo Ferreira. The meeting consisted of two sessions: in the morning the FISU sports programme was discussed, while the afternoon session was dedicated to FISU’s educational events and initiatives.



After a tour and presentations made by Mr Saintrond, Mr Ferreira and Ms Burk, it was time for discussion, which mainly focused on the further development of World University Championships and Leagues programme, the prospect of a shift to intra-university competition format and the implementation of Healthy Campus project.

An ideal mix of meetings and education, the first academic advisory meeting finished with the Lausanne in Motion festival, an event meant to bridge the gap between the university campus and the city through the philosophy of sport for all. Between the two sessions, members of the board attended the Lausanne in Motion Festival to celebrate the International Day of University Sport (IDUS), together with FISU staff and the citizens of Lausanne.