Implementation of dual career at European higher education institutions: the student-athletes’ and experts’ views

Aim: The holistic development of elite athletes is a key focus of European sports policies, requiring a coordinated approach to dual career support. This study examined the views of both university experts and student-athletes (S-As) on various dual career aspects, with the goal of offering actionable insights to enhance policies within European higher education institutions (HEIs). Methods: Data were gathered via an online survey directed at HEI experts and S-As from several countries. A total of 46 HEI experts and 321 S-As participated. The influence of country of origin on each dual career aspect for S-As was analyzed using MANOVA, followed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s tests when significant effects were found. Due to violations of variance homogeneity and inadequate sample size, data from HEI experts and comparisons between S-As and HEI experts were analyzed descriptively. Results: The study highlighted notable trends and discrepancies in the availability and quality of support services. Logistic (Pillai\'s Trace = 0.24, Approx. F(20, 1260.00) = 4.11, p < .001), social (Pillai\'s Trace = 0.26, Approx. F(30, 1570.00) = 2.93, p < 0.001), financial (Pillai\'s Trace = 0.30, Approx. F(20, 1260.00) = 5.05, p < 0.001), and other support/policies (Pillai\'s Trace = 0.16, Approx. F(15, 945.00) = 3.45, p < 0.001) aspects were significantly influenced by the country of origin, with Romanian and Serbian S-As generally reporting higher scores, and Italian and Spanish S-As lower. Overall, HEI experts rated dual career provisions more positively than S-As. Conclusion: The findings stress the importance of integrating both HEI expert and S-As perspectives to inform the development of more effective dual career policies. Tailored interventions and better communication of available resources are essential for enhancing the dual career experiences of S-As across Europe.