Elite Athlete Dual Career Seminar at VAMK
Finnish Olympic Committee’s Elte Athlete Dual Career Seminar was held at VAMK. During the event the official quality marks for new Elite Athlete Friendly Universities were presented and the Student Athlete of the Year was awarded.
This annual seminar, arranged by the Finnish Olympic Committee, took place this year at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. On September 19, 2024, the seminar brought together elite student athletes and their coaches, representatives from sports federations, and professionals from sports academies. In addition, contacts from elite athletes’ dual career partner institutions, such as universities, universities of applied sciences, and secondary schools, also participated.
The Dual Career Seminar is one of the key collaboration initiatives tightly connected to the quality and development work of athlete-friendly higher education institutions.
The event featured discussions on the dual career development work being done. Also new Elite Athlete Friendly Universities were presented and the Student Athlete of the Year was awarded.
Hannu Vahtera, CEO and President of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, opened the seminar, while Quality and Sustainability Manager Katja Lakojoki-Karhu gave a speech on VAMK’s audit journey toward becoming an athlete friendly university. In May 2024, the Finnish Olympic Committee awarded VAMK the Athlete Friendly University quality mark, acknowledging the comprehensive consideration of athletes’ needs during their studies. This recognition also highlights VAMK’s long-standing collaboration with the Vaasa Region Sports Academy.
“Our cooperation with the Finnish Olympic Committee and the Vaasa Region Sports Academy is close and fruitful. The foundation of our entire collaboration is based on the success of students, supporting individual study paths, and developing a comprehensive student experience,” says Lakojoki-Karhu.
laatu- ja vastuullisuuspäällikkö Katja Lakojoki-Karhu
In the Photo: VAMK’s Quality and Sustainability Manager Katja Lakojoki-Karhu, Martin Grandell from Vaasa Region Sports Academy, Jukka Tirri and Juha Dahlström from Finnish Olympic Committee and Jens Wallin from Vaasa Region Sports Academy.
