Final conference – Day 1

Higher education institutions serve as crucial environments where knowledge, personal growth, and societal values converge. In these spaces, students from diverse backgrounds engage in academic pursuits while developing leadership skills and social responsibility. Through collaboration, critical thinking, and exposure to a wide range of perspectives, higher education lays a foundation for tomorrow’s professionals—shaping their attitudes, competencies, and potential to catalyze positive change.

Sport has long been a powerful platform for promoting fair play, integrity, and inclusion (Opstoel et al., 2020). However, despite its positive potential, it is also a microcosm of inequalities. Systemic gender inequalities continue to limit access to equal recognition and career opportunities of athletes and other sports professionals. Gender-based violence in particular remains a concern both in the field and within educational environments linked to sports (Alsarve & Strand, 2023).

As future sports professionals, students in sports higher education institutions have a crucial role to play in creating a culture of respect and fair play at all levels. At an individual and collective level, they can influence inclusive policies and practices in sport, as well as in other fields. By actively challenging harmful norms, advocating for safer environments, and embracing gender equality in their institutions and future workplaces, they contribute to systemic change towards a safer, fairer and more inclusive sports environment.

This session offers students, staff and all stakeholders involved in higher education and in the sports ecosystem an opportunity to better understand the various forms that gender-based violence can encompass, its various forms, and the importance of early intervention. The session will conclude by emphasising the role of students in driving change, showcasing collective efforts through student associations and unions and individual actions, such as pledging support and practicing bystander intervention. Leveraging concrete examples of student-led initiatives, participants will gain insights on the power of advocacy and solidarity in fostering safer, more inclusive environments.