These projects – U-Media and YouRef – will bring FISU’s total involvement in Erasmus+ initiatives to five, engaging over 20 partners from various universities and sports organisations worldwide.
The first project, U-Media, will be spearheaded by the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games Organising Committee. This initiative aims to transform the World University Games into a dual-purpose platform, functioning both as an educational portal and a dynamic sports media outlet. U-Media will provide students with a comprehensive resource to stay updated on the latest media trends in sports, receive practical advice on sports reporting, access exemplary sports content, and even publish their own work.
Empowering student reporters
Through the publication of their pieces, students will gain valuable real-world feedback, allowing them to refine their craft and develop their professional skills further. U-Media will also include a series of educational activities, both within universities—such as lectures and seminars—and online, through workshops and webinars. These activities are strategically designed to prepare student reporters for professional assignments at university sports events, with their first assignment being at the largest multi-sport event for university students worldwide in 2025—the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
In addition to its ongoing collaboration with the Rhine-Ruhr FISU Games Organising Committee, FISU will work with several other key partners on the U-Media project, including the University of Tübingen and Stuttgart Media University, AWO Südwest Ggmbh in Germany, and the University of Porto in Portugal.
YouRef: cultivating the next generation of sports officials
The second project, YouRef, aims to bridge the gap between educational institutions and sports organisations by training young people to become competent sports officials. Running until 2027, YouRef will focus on developing the skills necessary for young referees to thrive, ensuring the longevity of sports through a new generation of trained officials.
The project will not only offer technical training but will also provide essential soft skills development, such as leadership, communication, and decision-making, which are critical for effective officiating. YouRef is led by the Braga Football Association in Portugal, with FISU partnering alongside the International Federation for Sports Officials (IFSO) based in the Netherlands, the Hungarian University of Sport Sciences, and the Sport Innovation Hub in Spain.
Expanding FISU’s Reach in Erasmus+
Since 2023, with these two newly approved projects, FISU has increased its involvement in Erasmus+ to five projects, reflecting its commitment to fostering international collaboration in sports and education. These initiatives, supported by the European Union, continue to strengthen the network of national university sports federations, universities, sports organisations, and young professionals in the field, ensuring the continued growth and development of university sports on a global scale.
Written by Fernando Parente
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