Relevance of university dual career support services – student–athletes’ perspectives

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose Universities provide various services supporting athletes pursuing a dual career. This paper focuses on the preconditions of being simultaneously included in elite sport and educational system, aiming to analyse the assessment of such services from the student–athletes’ perspective. Design/Methodology/Approach The data originate from an online survey of 1055 international student–athletes, who participated in the 2019 Winter and Summer Universiades. Based on exploratory factor analysis, support services were grouped into categories. Implementing probit models, the respondents’ perceptions were regressed with their sporting and academic background by controlling for socio-demographic factors. Findings The study identifies three factors of dual career support services in the context of higher education and reveals statistically significant associations between socio-demographic, academic, and sporting career-related factors and the perceived relevance of support services. Practical Implications To get the university context functionalised in favour of student–athletes’ dual careers, tailor-made support should particularly address differences regarding gender, university levels, and types of sport. Research Contribution The study enhances the understanding of dual career challenges, related to the student–athletes’ conflicting roles. It provides evidence that adequate dual career support services at the interfaces of elite sport and higher education need to be individualised according to the athletes’ needs.