Network

BACKGROUND: A new step in the Education and Training policy in Europe was initiated by the European Council and the European Commission at the Maastricht conference in December 2004. In line with the Copenhagen declaration (2002) on Vocational Education and Training (VET), it has been decided to support the creation of a "European Qualification Framework" (EQF). A first document called "Towards a European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning" was approved in July 2005 and then submitted to a Consultation Process open until the end of December 2005.

In the light of that, the EOSE Board took the initiative to arrange a meeting in December 2005 in Brussels with the key stakeholders of the European Sport and Active Leisure Sector to coordinate the contribution of the sector to the EQF consultation and to form a permanent group to provide the strategic guidance towards developing, implementing and evaluating a European Sport and Active Leisure Workforce Development Plan with short, medium and long term goals.

The strategic committee called “European Sport and Active Leisure sector Workforce Development Alliance” was fully established in 2007 to share and discuss issues around the development of the sector's workforce can be considered as the unique group bringing together the major European network organisations working in the Sport and Active Leisure sector.

SCOPE, MISSION AND ROLE: The remit of the Alliance is as for EOSE to cover the whole sector of Sport and Active Leisure including the Outdoor and Fitness Sectors. The Alliance focuses on issues and activities related to qualifications and training within the workforce with specific reference to the European Qualification Framework for Vocational Training and Higher Education including the emerging credit system for vocational training (ECVET). The Alliance also further considers matters related to employment, job mobility and Sport and Active Leisure systems across Europe with particular reference to participation and the drive towards increased physical activity.

The mission of this alliance is to provide a mechanism to coordinate the development of the European Sport’s and Active Leisure workforce to ensure a workforce with the “right skills at the right time in the right place” and develop an active partnership between the major decision makers of the sector.

The role of this informal strategic group is to continue contributing to the implementation of EU policies but also to guarantee that the Sport and Active Leisure sector can present itself at the European level in a coherent way in demonstrating its positive and growing contribution to the social, health, economic and cultural development of the European Union.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The main goals and objectives of the European Sport and Active Leisure Workforce Development Alliance (The Alliance) shall be:

To consider, advise and recommend strategies for the development and improvement of the skills required by the Sport and Active Leisure sector.
To analyse and comment on studies and research already developed to highlight key problems and challenges for the sector.
To advise and inform the sector on the implementation of European initiatives.
To coordinate the views of the sector on initiatives and issues at the European level that impact on the sector.
To encourage partnership working and exchange on issues of mutual interest between the members of the Alliance.
To ensure a close link with the EU Commission and key stakeholders to promote sector issues and initiatives.
To strengthen the recognition of the sector and the Alliance at the European level.
To provide regular updates on good practice and latest developments from the Sport and Active Leisure sector at the European, national and local level.
To ensure the effective promotion, communication and dissemination of the work of the Alliance through the respective networks of the members.
To work together in a structured manner for the benefit of the sector.

The official Terms of Reference of the Alliance are available in clicking here

COMPOSITION

The Alliance can be considered as highly significant insofar as this is the unique group bringing together the senior members or executives from key European organisations involved in the Sport and Active Leisure sector.

EOSE is playing the role of facilitator of this strategic group and the European Networks involved are:

The European Association of Sport Employers (EASE)
The European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA)
The European Network of Sport Science, Education and Employment (ENSSEE)
The European Non Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO)
The European Olympic Committees (EOC)
UNI-EUROPA Sport (as observer)

Please find below further information about the composition of the Alliance. If you need further information or have questions do not hesitate in contacting us.

The European Association of Sport Employers (EASE)

EASE is a European not-for-profit organisation registered in France . It is an independent membership association of national and European sport and active leisure employer organisations wishing to promote social dialogue.

The aims of EASE are in all sport and active leisure fields:

to study and to defend the rights and the material and moral interests of its members
to work together to ensure the harmonious development of the sport and active leisure sector
to participate in the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for sports
to negotiate at European level on behalf of employers in sport and active leisure.

Website / Contact

The European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA)

EHFA has operated since 2001 and emerged out of the successful European Network of Fitness Associations that was established in 1996. EHFA is a not-for-profit association, established in Brussels, owned by the Members and working for the Members.

EHFA mission is to bring together the health and fitness industry in Europe and forge a collective public affairs effort that present the interest of the health and fitness industry at the European level: More People | More Active | More Often

Over the forthcoming years, the strategic direction of EHFA will be to:

Set the European agenda for physical activity and fitness
Drive for Quality Standards and Certification through the standardisation of training standards (ECVET and EQF process) that resulted in the creation of the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS)
Improve the perception of the Industry by politicians/media/consumers
Increase participation and to positively influence public health using the mantra “Fitness is Prevention”
Increase our influence with EU Government and obtain EU funding to help increase participation
Fully document the European fitness industry and drive the need for research

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The European Network of Sport Science, Education and Employment (ENSSEE)

The European Network of Sport Science, Education & Employment (ENSSEE) is an international non-profit association established in Luxembourg in 1989 under its former name ENSSHE (European Network of Sport Science in Higher Education).

The objectives of the network are, firstly, to encourage greater European co-operation in relation to research, education and employment in sport and to increase the mobility and the exchange of students, teaching staff and professionals. Secondly, ENSSEE supports to work towards the convergence of education and training systems for sport related professions in the European Union. In general, the network is working towards developing better quality sporting opportunities for all.

The network, while respecting the autonomy of its member countries in contents and organisation of their education and training systems, intends to develop:

A body of knowledge in relation to research, education, qualifications, professionalisation and employment in the field of sport;
Relations and the exchange of information between all organisations responsible for education, research and training in sport or related to sport;
Synergies and relations between all partners of the network, including the organisations of the European Union, governmetal and non-governmental organisations, institutes and collages of vocational and academic education, training and research, professsional organisations and sports organisations;
Links with similiar organisations inside and outside the European Union.

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The European Non Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO)

European National Sports Confederations and National Olympic Committees, if they are the national umbrella organisations for sports, form the association European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) which is a non-profit making or distributing organisation with public responsibilities. This means that the members of ENGSO represent the national sport in its broadest sense from children and youth sport, over sport for all activities to elite sports.

ENGSO presently has 40 national umbrella sports organisations as members. ENGSO is today the only European sports organisation having been granted consultative status by the Council of Europe.

The main aims of ENGSO are as follows:

to promote and to defend the independence and autonomy of sports on Europe;
to meet the political and economical impact of EU on sport in Europe;
to assist in improving sports development - from children and youth sport, over “sport for all” activities to elite sports – in the member countries.
to take active part in development of the East-West and North-South co-operation;
to raise the status and credibility of sports in the member countries, as well as actively combat the negative tendencies in sports;
to support voluntarism as an important factor for development in society;
to develop democracy in sports;
to promote equality between men and women in sports;
to build bridges between different organisations dealing with “sport for all” activities.

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The European Olympic Committees (EOC)

The EOC is an international non-governmental not-for-profit organisation, of unlimited duration, in the form of an association with the status of a legal person. The mission of the EOC is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Europe in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

The main objectives of the EOC are:

To foster the development of the Olympic movement and its ideals throughout Europe, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Olympic Associations of the other continents, in promoting the development of physical and moral qualities that come from contests in the friendly spheres of sport.
To consistently encourage the Olympic spirit amongst the youth of Europe and to help to promote a programme of education for the public and the press of the philosophy of sportsmanship.
To ensure that the EOC remains a completely autonomous and independent body and resists all political, religious, racial or commercial pressures.
To promote co-operation between the National Olympic Committees of Europe in the areas of research and common interests.
To develop Olympic Solidarity Programmes of the IOC in Europe.

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UNI-EUROPA Sport (as observer)

EURO MEI is the European branch of UNI MEI which is the global union in the media, entertainment, arts and sports representing staff freelance, independent and contract workers in the sectors. It bring together over 100 union and guilds in over 70 countries. UNI MEI caters to the special concerns of unions and similar associations whose members are engaged in mass media, entertainment and the arts.

UNI-MEI serves as a point of contact for its affiliates and the members they represent in this increasingly internationalised sector. It is a clearing house for information useful to them, particularly that regarding bi-national or multinational productions, or movement of employees across national borders.
It is concerned with issues ranging from ownership structural evolution, trade policy and technological change to copyright and neighbouring rights, piracy and censorship. It acts to exchange information about collective agreements, legal standards and practices of the categories it represents at an international level, aiming where relevant and feasible to temper chaotic labour relations and practices with common regional or wider minimums in consultations with employers or in practice alone by employee concertation.

UNI MEI sees part of its role as encouraging stronger links between those active in the media, entertainment and the arts and the trade union movement in general. Other activities include coordinating solidarity with affiliates and others in the sector, both in industrialised countries and in developing ones, in cases of labour disputes, infringement of trade union or human rights or of freedom of expression in the arts or media. It seeks to stimulate audio-visual production and the arts. It also has observer status with several inter-governmental bodies. It seeks to identify and defend the interests of its members in these bodies and in other international public policy arenas. UNI MEI together with the International Federations of Actors and Musicians form the International Arts and Entertainment Alliance.

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