SMART SPORT supported the implementation of EU Guidelines on Dual Careers (DC) of athletes by setting up a
transnational network of stakeholders who will elaborate, implement and test an Innovative Dual Career Program
(DCP) as a new educational and training opportunity for athletes and coaches. SMART SPORT successfully
strengthened cooperation between educational institutions and sport organizations at EU level while meeting the
hard challenge athletes face today in having to combine education with sports training. Despite the hard efforts of
the EC in promoting its policies on DC of athletes only in a few Member States the EU Guidelines on DC (2012)
are well implemented. SMART SPORT contributed to supporting their further implementation and development
allowing for flexible online education for talented students - athletes in Project Partner Countries (PPC). On a
policy level severe efforts have been done to establish special institutional structures for boosting education and
dual careers for athletes. The project targeted university students-athletes, coaches and sport professionals from
each PPC. Modern technologies were researched and used for changing the way athletes perceive their
employment opportunities. A whole new perspective was given. The project Innovative DCP consisted of four
online educational modules elaborated by researchers in sport technology. The didactic content was oriented
towards a tech-enabled learning and training to facilitate prospective program participants in acquiring new, more
advanced and effective skills. SMART SPORT addressed the priority of the Erasmus+ SPORT Program “to
promote and support good governance in sport and dual careers of athletes”. SMART SPORT helped to improve
the competence of university athletes and coaches through education in and through sport, increased awareness
of major stakeholders in sports and education about DC of athletes and elaborated new state of the art DC paths
for EU athletes. The project had and will have a EU added value as it contributes to further developing a common
curriculum of educational programs for EU athletes in DC.
