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Eric Saintrond receives an honorary doctorate

13 July 2024
The ceremony took place at the Nanpa Concert Hall, Dankook University.

Dankook University (KOR) awarded FISU’s CEO with an honorary doctorate in sports management.

Eric Saintrond, Secretary General and CEO of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), who contributed to the friendship and harmony of university students around the world through sports, received an honorary doctorate in sports management from the Dankook University. 

Figures from inside and outside the university, including Chairman Jang Ho-seong, President Ahn Soon-cheol, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hanyang University Foundation Kim Chong-yang, Byong-Jin You
President of Myongji University, Vice-President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), Kim Ji-yong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation Cho Hyeon-jae, and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games Summer Kang Chang-hee attended the ceremony.

Recognition from the Republic of Korea

In addition to having more than doubling the growth of FISU during his 40 years working for the International University Sports Federation, Secretary General Eric Saintrond has played an important role in successfully hosting from the Winter Universiade in Muju · Chonju in 1997 to the Summer Universiade in Daegu in 2003 and the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade in Korea. He is also deeply involved in the hosting of the upcoming FISU Chungcheong World University Games in Summer 2027 and with all these achievements he has greatly contributed to the development of university sports in Korea.


“Eric Saintrond’s outstanding leadership, achievements and efforts for the development of sports over the past 40 years are in line with our university’s motto, ‘Truth and Service’. Accordingly, The University’s Graduate School Committee deliberated and decided to award Secretary General Eric Saintrond an Honorary Doctorate in Sports Management” explained Dankook University.

FISU Secretary General and CEO received many gifts and flowers from his Korean friends.

“I can say Eric was an excellent CEO who has had exceptional success both as an administrator and an educator. As an administrator, Eric has shown us how to both negotiate and engage in open dialogue with national as well as local governments. At the same time, he was a true educator whose priority has always been to create a better future for our students”, added Byong-Jin You, President of Myongji University and Vice-President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC).

Eric Saintrond‘s acceptance speech ended with the following optimistic words: “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Dankook University for this prestigious honour. Together, let us continue to harness the transformative power of sport to create a more peaceful and prosperous world for generations to come.”

Written by Thérèse Courvoisier

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