ENSE is proud to be supporter of the upcoming ERASMUS+ Project, “Intercultural Education through Physical Activity, Coaching and Training” (EDU-PACT)
This project will target a major, current societal problem: The migrant and refugee crisis in Europe. Consistent migrant flow towards Europe is posing new cultural challenges across all European societies. Regardless of what is done to handle this situation, it is clear that a great number of people, including children, will need to be integrated and welcomed into our societies. Schools as well as sport clubs are an important vehicle to facilitate this integration.
However, teachers and schools are often under-resourced and under-funded to deal with the new challenges posed by this situation. The objective of the project is to help address these challenges and to develop innovative, evidence-based intercultural pedagogy in physical education and coaching. This pedagogy will be namely based on the extensive hands-on experience from two reputed international NGOs: Right to Play (RTP) and the Vienna Institute of International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC). The EDU-PACT project will develop sustainable approaches in order to equip physical education teachers as well as coaches with inclusive, intercultural behaviour.
The project consortium consists of 10 partners from 7 countries (Austria, Germany, Denmark, UK, Greece, Italy and Turkey) from three different sectors: Universities, NGOs as well as Government. Though not an official project partner, ENSE will support the group by using its extensive network to help disseminate the findings of EDU-PACT.
The active leisure sector, including the fitness and outdoor sectors, has intensively worked on its own skills agenda in recent years. It recognises the importance of the need for an implementation plan based on the policy recommendations of the Expert Group on Human Resources Development and EU New Skills Agenda. Accordingly the Blueprint for Skills Cooperation and Employment in Active Leisure project focuses on developing new skills for current and future workers, improving employability of young people, and supporting entrepreneurship and growth across the sector.
The project brings together leading actors from the sector in a formidable partnership of expertise to implement the project, which includes the priorities of:
Starting in January 2018, the project will especially reflect on the changing roles of fitness and outdoor workers in developing skills to meet new digital technologies, promoting health-enhancing physical activity (sometimes with other healthcare professionals), and working with special population groups.
EuropeActive is the coordinator of the project, while ENSE joins a group of five other partners, including the European Confederation of Outdoor Employers, Spain Active, the Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, the International Council on Coaching Excellence and Sport Ireland