Work packages

The project activities are grouped into seven interconnected Work Packages   (WP1-WP7).

WP1. Coordination, administration, and evaluation of the project and dissemination of project outcomes

Co-Leaders: Associate Professor Danijel Jurakic, University of Zagreb and Professor Zeljko Pedisic, Victoria University

Members:

  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Assistant Professor Hrvoje Podnar, University of Zagreb
  • Associate Professor Marija Rakovac, University of Zagreb

Tasks: WP1 will be in charge of the coordination, administration, and evaluation of the project. They will also lead the dissemination of project outcomes.

The coordination activities will include:

  • creating the final Risk Management Plan
  • organising and chairing the kick-off, mid-term, and closing meetings, with the participation of all project team members
  • organising and chairing five other project team meetings, out of which three will be held face-to-face and the remaining two by teleconference
  • creating an online platform for project management
  • coordinating the exchange of information between different WPs
  • quality control
  • verifying the completion of each project task by issuing a deliverables acceptance note.

The administration activities will include:

  • designing and publishing the Project Charter (based on the respective elements that are already specified in this project proposal)
  • developing the final Project Work Plan
  • developing Project Handbook
  • completing the Project Stakeholder Matrix
  • administering the project funds
  • booking venues and catering for the meetings
  • making travel arrangements for the meeting attendees, including booking of flights and accommodation
  • taking meeting minutes and distributing them to all partner institutions
  • gathering and assessing quarterly progress reports from the WP leaders
  • preparing the summary quarterly progress reports
    keeping records
  • corresponding with EACEA

The project evaluation activities will include:

  • analysing the quarterly progress reports
  • assessing the project outcomes against the set thresholds
  • conducting mid-term and final surveys on participant satisfaction
  • creating mid-term and final evaluation reports
  • presenting the evaluation reports at the mid-term and closing meetings
  • creating the Project-End Report

The project dissemination activities will include:

  • updating and managing the SCforH project website and social media accounts
  • creating press releases about the main project outcomes and publishing them on the SCforH project website and social media
  • encouraging project partners to publish the press releases on their institutional websites and social media
  • delivering press releases to relevant media outlets
    organising and chairing a closing seminar for selected policymakers and other relevant stakeholders in the area of sport and HEPA promotion
  • creating a Summary Findings Report on the outcomes of the project
  • creating a resolution including detailed evidence-based strategies for the future development of the SCforH movement in the EU
WP2. Documenting the context, historical development, andthe current status of the SCforH movement in the EU

Leader: Professor Zeljko Pedisic, Victoria University

Members:

  • Associate Professor Danijel Jurakic, University of Zagreb
  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Aamir Raoof Memon, PhD Candidate, Victoria University
  • Assistant Professor Hrvoje Podnar, University of Zagreb
  • Associate Professor Marija Rakovac, University of Zagreb
  • Professor Sylvia Titze, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Assistant Professor Pavel Hap, Palacky University
  • Professor Pasi Koski, University of Turku
  • Associate Professor Sami Kokko, University of Jyvaskyla
  • Professor Herbert Hartmann, German Gymnastic Federation
  • Reka Veress, National School, University and Leisure Sport Federation
  • Dr Aoife Lane, Athlone Institute of Technology
  • Professor Jan Seghers, KU Leuven
  • Professor Dusan Mitic, University of Belgrade

Subcontractors:

  • Dr Pekka Oja
  • Dr Matleena Livson

Tasks: WP2 will collect and summarise information about the historical development of the SCforH movement in the EU and describe its current status. In addition to the direct deliverables of this WP, their work will inform the development of the SCforH Resolution produced by WP1.

The data will be gathered:

  • by searching published and unpublished literature
  • from the partners in the funded SCforH projects
  • from a range of surveys conducted as part of the SCforH 2015-17 project
  • from the surveys conducted as part of WP4, WP5, and WP6 in the current project.

The collected information will be published in a book entitled “Sports Club for Health (SCforH) Movement in the EU”. Additionally, WP2 will produce a Summary Findings Report, which will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution. Some WP2 outputs will also provide relevant information needed for the development of the online learning tool (WP3) and for the lecture about SCforH movement that will be given to the EU Physical Activity Focal Points (WP5). WP2 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.

WP3. Developing the SCforH online learning tool based on the experience gained from successful SCforH initiatives

Leader: Associate Professor Danijel Jurakic, University of Zagreb

Members:

  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Professor Zeljko Pedisic, Victoria University
  • Professor Sylvia Titze, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Assistant Professor Pavel Hap, Palacky University
  • Professor Pasi Koski, University of Turku
  • Professor Herbert Hartmann, German Gymnastic Federation
  • Reka Veress, National School, University and Leisure Sport Federation
  • Dr Aoife Lane, Athlone Institute of Technology
  • Saska Benedicic Tomat, International Sport and Culture Organisation (ISCA)
  • Colin Regan, Gaelic Athletic Association
  • Guy De Grauwe, European Federation for Company Sports (EFCS)
  • Lovisa Broms, European Non-governmental Sport Organisation (ENGSO)

Subcontractors:

  • Dr Matleena Livson

Tasks: WP3 will identify examples of good practice in implementing SCforH initiatives (and other related practices that may not explicitly identify themselves as SCforH initiatives) in sports clubs and sport associations and gather the most relevant information about the SCforH movement, principles, and recommended implementation strategies. These data will then be used to create: [i] a database of SCforH initiatives and other related practices in EU; [ii] a succinct, interactive online learning tool for anyone interested to receive training in planning, implementing, and evaluating SCforH initiatives.

The database of SCforH initiatives and other related practices in the EU will include:

  • a list of SCforH initiatives and similar practices in the EU
  • summary information about each of the initiatives
  • a critical assessment of each initiative, with the emphasis on how it promotes SCforH values

The learning content for the SCforH online learning tool will be created from:

  • the updated SCforH guidelines and other relevant publications
  • information gathered from the WP3 partners who are representatives of sports organisations
  • WP2 outputs

In addition to this, WP3 will produce a Summary Findings Report, which will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution. Some parts of this report will also provide relevant information needed for Study 4 in WP7. WP3 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.

WP4. Providing training on SCforH principles and implementation strategies to representatives of sport associations and sports clubs in Europe

Co-Leaders: Professor Herbert Hartmann, German Gymnastic Federation and Saska Benedicic Tomat, International Sport and Culture Organisation (ISCA)

Members:

  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Reka Veress, National School, University and Leisure Sport Federation
  • Colin Regan, Gaelic Athletic Association
  • Guy De Grauwe, European Federation for Company Sports (EFCS)
  • Lovisa Broms, European Non-governmental Sport Organisation (ENGSO)

Tasks: The first task of WP4 will be to update the database with contact details of European- and national-level sport organisations that was developed in the SCforH 2015-17 project. The database currently includes contact details of 45 European umbrella sport organisations, 36 National Olympic Committees, 29 national umbrella sports organisations, 39 national Sport for All organisations, and 1568 national associations of specific sports. This database needs to be updated, as some of the contact details may not be valid anymore and new sport organisations may have been founded in the meantime.

The second tasks of WP4 will be to encourage representatives of European umbrella sport organisations, National Olympic Committees, national umbrella sports organisations, national Sport for All organisations, and national associations of specific sports to complete the SCforH online learning course. This will be done by sending an invitation to complete the SCforH online course to the representatives of all sport organisations on the contact list created in the previous step. The representatives of these sport organisations will also be encouraged to disseminate the SCforH online learning tool among their member organisations and member clubs. Herewith, we will target sport associations and sports clubs in a total of 36 European countries, including all EU member states, EU candidate countries, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. The estimated number of sport organisations we will contact is around 1750. The number of sports clubs that will be reached is not possible to estimate at the moment, as it will depend on the willingness of sport organisations to assist us by disseminating the SCforH online learning tool.

The third WP4 task will be to conduct the survey about the implementation of SCforH guidelines in the previously described sample of sport organisations and sports clubs. The survey will be enclosed to the SCforH online learning tool. The participation in the survey will be voluntary. WP4 will present the findings of the survey for every participating country in a report entitled “Sports Club for Health (SCforH) Country Cards”.

The summary findings of the WP4 survey will form a part of the WP2 book chapter entitled “Dissemination of Sports Clubs for Health (SCforH) guidelines in Europe: a survey-based evaluation”. These data will also be used as part of WP5 to inform the EU Physical Activity Focal Points about the current status of SCforH guidelines implementation in the EU.

The final WP4 task will be to produce a Summary Findings Report, that is, an overview of their overall outcomes. The key information in this report will be the number of sport organisations and clubs that completed the SCforH online learning course. This will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution and Study 4 that will be produced in WP7. WP4 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.

WP5. Raising awareness of the SCforH guidelines among HEPA policymakers, promoters, and researchers in Europe

Co-Leaders: Professor Sylvia Titze, Karl-Franzens University of Graz and Reka Veress, Hungarian School, University and Leisure Sport Federation

Members:

  • Associate Professor Marija Rakovac, University of Zagreb
  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Sowannry Em, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Associate Professor Sami Kokko, University of Jyvaskyla
  • Dr Aoife Lane, Athlone Institute of Technology

Subcontractors:

  • Dr Matleena Livson

Tasks: The first project activity led by WP5 will be to identify national ministries of sport and national ministries of health in 36 European countries, including all EU member states, EU candidate countries, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, and collect contact details of their departments in charge of HEPA promotion (if any). As part of this task, WP5 will also update our database from the SCforH 2015-17 project with contact details of European HEPA promoters and researchers. An update of the database is needed, because some of the contact details may not be valid anymore and it is likely that new relevant names have emerged in the meantime. This part of the contact list will be provided to WP6 for their purposes.

The second tasks of WP5 will be to encourage HEPA policymakers, promoters, and researchers to complete the SCforH online learning course. This will be done by sending an invitation to complete the SCforH online course to all HEPA policymakers, promoters, and researchers on the contact list created in the previous step. This has potential to strengthen indirect dissemination channels of SCforH ideas towards sports clubs and to provide a supportive political climate for the implementation of SCforH initiatives. The participants will also be encouraged to disseminate the SCforH online learning tool among their colleagues. The estimated number of HEPA policymakers, promoters, and researchers we will contact is around 200. Following the completion of the online course, the participants will be asked to complete a survey. The participation in the survey will be voluntary. WP5 will present the main findings of the survey in a report. The summary findings of the WP5 survey will form a part of the WP2 book chapter entitled “Dissemination of Sports Clubs for Health (SCforH) guidelines in Europe: a survey-based evaluation”.

The third WP5 task will be to encourage the EU Physical Activity Focal Points to become contact points for the SCforH movement in their countries and provide them relevant training. The Focal Points have alreadybeen informed about this project proposal and their possible involvement in the project will be coordinated in due course. Should there be sufficient interest in learning about the SCforH guidelines and the outcomes of this project, a workshop will be organised back to back with the Focal Points’ meeting in 2021.

The fourth task of WP5 will be to organise one SCforH symposia a year as part of the Annual Meeting and Conference of HEPA Europe. The invited speakers will be primarily (but not as a rule) recruited from the project partners. The symposia will be an opportunity to present the results of our project work to European HEPA promoters and researchers and to promote the SCforH movement also in that way. Based on the high attendance of the SCforH symposium at the HEPA Europe Conference in Belfast in 2016, we expect 30-50 attendees per symposium.

The fifth task of WP5 will be to produce a Summary Findings Report, that is, an overview of their overall outcomes. The key information in this report will be the number of HEPA policymakers, promoters, and researchers who completed the SCforH online course. This will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution and Study 4 that will be produced in WP7. WP5 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.

WP6. Fostering the implementation of SCforH-related topics in the curricula of higher education courses for health promoters, physical educators, and sport and exercise practitioners in Europe

Co-Leaders: Assistant Professor Pavel Hap, Palacky University; Professor Pasi Koski, University of Turku; and Dr Aoife Lane, Athlone Institute of Technology

Members:

  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Associate Professor Danijel Jurakic, University of Zagreb
  • Professor Sylvia Titze, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Jan Belka, Palacky University
  • Dr Michal Kudlacek, Palacky University
  • Associate Professor Sami Kokko, University of Jyvaskyla
  • Professor Jan Seghers, KU Leuven
  • Associate Professor Aurelie van Hoye, University of Lorraine
  • Associate Professor Susanna Geidne, Orebro University
  • Professor Dusan Mitic, University of Belgrade

Tasks: The first task of WP6 will be to identify tertiary education courses for health promoters, physical educators, and sport and exercise practitioners in 36 European countries, including all EU member states, EU candidate countries, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, and to create a database with contact details of course or subject coordinators responsible for the organisation and/or delivery of units related to HEPA promotion.

The courses will be identified and contact details will be gathered:

  • by conducting an Internet search
  • from WP6 members
  • by reviewing the contact list of HEPA promoters and researchers created in WP5

The second tasks of WP6 will be to encourage the course and subject coordinators to complete the SCforH online course and consider implementing it in their teaching activities. This will be done by sending an invitation to complete the SCforH online course to all the course and subject coordinators on the contact list created in the previous step. If this task is successful, it would ensure that future health promoters, physical educators, and sport and exercise practitioners become familiar with the importance of adopting the SCforH approach, the SCforH principles, and the recommended implementation strategies for SCforH initiatives. This target group is particularly relevant for the realisation of our project objectives, because many of the students will work in sports organisations, sports clubs, or institutions in charge of HEPA promotion after the completion of their studies. Implementation of the online course in higher education curricula would also ensure a long-term, ongoing dissemination of SCforH guidelines across the EU. The decision to do this in a broader region (and not just in the EU member states) was motivated by the fact that some EU students may study abroad and return to work in EU after their graduation.

Furthermore, following the completion of the online course, the participants will be asked to complete a survey. The participation in the survey will be voluntary. WP6 will present the main findings of the survey in a report. The findings of the WP6 survey will form a part of the WP2 book chapter entitled “Dissemination of Sports Clubs for Health (SCforH) guidelines in Europe: a survey-based evaluation”.

The final WP6 task will be to produce a Summary Findings Report, that is, an overview of their overall outcomes. The key information in this report will be: [i] the number of course and subject coordinators who completed the SCforH online learning course; [ii] the number students who completed the SCforH online learning course; and [iii] the number of course and subject coordinators who agreed to ‘permanently’ implement the SCforH online learning course in their curricula. This will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution and Study 4 that will be produced in WP7. WP6 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.

WP7. Expanding the body of evidence supporting the SCforH initiatives and their effective implementation

Leader: Associate Professor Sami Kokko, University of Jyvaskyla

Members:

  • Assistant Professor Hrvoje Podnar, University of Zagreb
  • Associate Professor Danijel Jurakic, University of Zagreb
  • Tena Matolic, PhD Candidate, University of Zagreb
  • Aamir Raoof Memon, PhD Candidate, Victoria University
  • Associate Professor Marija Rakovac, University of Zagreb
  • Professor Zeljko Pedisic, Victoria University
  • Professor Sylvia Titze, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Sowannry Em, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
  • Assistant Professor Pavel Hap, Palacky University
  • Professor Pasi Koski, University of Turku
  • Dr Aoife Lane, Athlone Institute of Technology
  • Professor Jan Seghers, KU Leuven
  • Associate Professor Aurelie van Hoye, University of Lorraine
  • Associate Professor Susanna Geidne, Orebro University
  • Professor Dusan Mitic, University of Belgrade

Subcontractors:

  • Dr Pekka Oja

Tasks: WP7 will expand the body of evidence supporting the SCforH initiatives and their effective implementation by conducting four studies of high relevance and novelty. Within this WP, we expect to produce at least four academic journal articles and four conference abstracts. In addition to this, WP7 will produce a Summary Findings Report, which will inform the work of WP1 on the SCforH Resolution. WP7 will also produce a WP-End Report that will be embedded in the Project-End Report.