With the goal of inspiring graduates to sustain active, healthy lifestyles post-university, the much-anticipated project Future links for University athletes with Sports clubs Integrating Organised Networks (FUSION) officially kicked off on December 7th, 2024, in the prestigious Rectorate of the University of Ljubljana.

Partners from five European organisations coming from different countries met to discuss important aspects of the project and ensure that the project will be implemented well. Present at the meeting were representatives of the Toulouse University Club (TUC), the Latvian University Sports Federation (LUSF), the Lithuanian Student Sports Association (LSSA), University of Hamburg (UHAM), and the EUSA Institute, established by the European University Sports Association (EUSA).

FUSION seeks to address a growing concern: the decline in sports participation and drop-out from sport among young graduates, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the needs of students and graduates through surveys, the project aims to engage key stakeholders at networking events and provide practical resources like a podcast series to promote lifelong sports engagement.

The kickoff meeting began with partner introductions, setting a collaborative tone for the day. Markus Schneider, EUSA European Solidarity Corps volunteer, outlined the project’s core aspects, ensuring all partners were aligned with the set milestones.

Financial and administrative details, presented by EUSA's Projects and Policy Manager Andrej Pisl, clarified the foundation for implementation. Partners were keen to ask questions and share their ideas and thoughts, showcasing everyone's enthusiasm for the project.

Partner meeting was also attended by EUSA Secretary General Matjaz Pecovnik, whose endorsement of the project underscored its importance within the (university) sports community.

As the FUSION project takes its first steps, the kickoff meeting in Ljubljana has set a strong foundation for its success. By addressing the critical issue of post-graduation sports participation, the project has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of young graduates across Europe. With upcoming activities like surveys, networking events, and a podcast series, the partners are more than ready to deliver innovative solutions that inspire lifelong engagement in sports. Stay tuned for updates on the project’s progress and upcoming initiatives aimed at empowering graduates to prioritize their health and fitness journeys.

We invite you to keep an eye on the survey which will be launched in January 2025. The next time the FUSION Project partners will meet is in June 2025 in an online meeting, discussing the outcomes of the survey which the upcoming networking events are going to be based on.

More information about the project will be soon available at the project website, which is currently being finalised, and will be launched later this December.