On April 14 in Madrid, day after the EUSA General Assembly 2018, members of the European University Sports Association had the opportunity to attend the FISU-EUSA Strategic Dialogue event, getting an insight into strategy and vision of FISU and EUSA, main cooperation fields between the two organisations, and good practices in University sport in Europe.



The event was opened by the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Mr Oleg Matytsin. In his keynote speech, he presented the strategy of FISU and the further improvement of University sport at their events. EUSA members also had the opportunity to ask questions and share their views and proposals.



Mr Adam Roczek, President of EUSA, elaborated on the difference between university sport at European and World events. Difference of main stakeholders stating that the two organizations make them complementary and that together they can improve the quality of student sports on all levels.



FISU’s 1st Vice President Mr Leonz Eder and EUSA’s Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik joint forces to present the strategic dialogue between the organisations, and shared some highlights of the main cooperation fields.



The first panel discussion was focused on university sport from the perspective of key stakeholders. Moderator Mr Lorenz Ursprung welcomed FISU President Mr Oleg Matytsin, EUSA President Mr Adam Roczek, member of EUSA Student Commission Ms Esli de Kok, Dean of the University Camilo Jose Cela Mr Miguel Angel Perez and CEDU Secretary General Mr Txus Mardaras.



They agreed that such discussions should be held more frequently because it was a rare occasion when all major stakeholders of University sport sat together and talked about the perspective and place for further development of every stakeholder.



FISU Senior Executive Committee Member Ms Verena Burk lead the panel session dedicated to good practice in the university sport, entitled University sports models across Europe: compatibility and implications for intra-university competitions format. Mr Bill Thompson, Mr Mozes Szekely and Mr Daniel Monteiro shared their experiences, organization structure and activities of their national university governing bodies – the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), Hungarian University Sports Association (MEFS/HUSF) and the Portuguese University Sports Federation (FADU).



Ms Sara Rozman, EUSA Education and Development Manager lead the third and final panel on the cooperation between the national university sports associations and universities, seeking the answer if it can go beyond sports competitions. Mr Joerg Foerster as the President of the German University Sports Federation (ADH) and Mr Aitor Canibe Sanchez as the Director of Sport of the Educational Institution SEK, spoke about the experience, programme and activities related to competitions, combining top athleticism and higher education, as well as other fields of good practice.



The FISU-EUSA Strategic Dialogue was also a perfect opportunity for the Presidents of FISU and EUSA, to sign a Memorandum of understanding between the two organizations that will not only strengthen the cooperation, but help further progress university sport in Europe and in general.



EUSA President Mr Roczek in the end thanked FISU President Mr Matytsin for supporting the event and for the long-term cooperation. He also thanked EUSA Treasurer Mr Lorenz Ursprung and FISU 1st Vice-President Mr Leonz Eder for the moderation of the event and the hosts - Spanish University Sport Committee and University of Camilo Jose Cela, local volunteers and the staff of EUSA and FISU, who made the event possible.