Sanja Ćurković

Bio: Sanja Ćurković is an academic researcher from University of Zagreb. The author has contributed to research in topics: Higher education & Curriculum. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 9 publications receiving 34 citations.

Comparative analysis: support for student - athletes and the guidelines for the universities in southeast Europe.

Abstract: Multitude of different studies confirmed that it is rarely possible to combine higher education and sport successfully without some level of flexibility in educational programmes. Some of the European countries and its universities have adjusted entry requirements that offer flexible arrangements and support systems for student athletes. The main purpose of this paper is to consider the role of universities in balancing athletic performance and education of student-athletes. The support services to the studentathletes at university generally include some of the following measures: flexible timetabling and permission for absence at training/competition, unlimited student status, distance learning and e-learning programmes, individual tutor support and monitoring, etc.. According to the best practices in Europe, we have proposed the list of the Guidelines for promoting dual career in educational institution that have been adjusted towards universities’ abilities and student-athletes needs in this region.

Relation of student attitude toward leisure time activities and their preferences toward sport recreation activities.

Abstract: The connection among attitude toward leisure time activities and their preferences to certain sports activities was researched. It was based on suitable sample of 109 Faculty of kinesiology students at Zagreb University. According to the answers on the survey, the presence of connection between 5 sets of data was discovered. These 5 sets of data were: how to use free time, desire how to spend winter/summer holidays, desire to learn new sport activities, what kind of influence is there toward sport activities. One pair of significant canonical correlations were discovered between existing ways of spending leisure time and desired ways of spending leisure time, also desire to learn new sport activities and the kind of influence toward sport activities. The gained results differed according to sex, and they depended on the fact that kinesiology students are specific sample of examinees.

The role and challenges of physical education at the Croatian Universities

Abstract: The most determinative segment of a healthy lifestyle in education is an organised framework where the teacher (especially in the field of physical education) has a key position. Physical Education (PE) in higher education varies across regions and countries according to the university policy and tradition. Croatian Universities have long tradition of the compulsory subject PE for students in the first and second year of BS study programme. During past years, some of the universities (Zagreb and Rijeka) started important activities (new curriculum of PE, the strategy of sport and physical activity) which could improve the position of the PE as well as the physical exercise and health for the whole academic society. The purpose of the present article is to document current literature and the European documents related to health enhancing physical activity as well as best practices from different countries with the aim to explore the challenges of PE in higher education. Across Europe, there are different statuses and time allocation of the PE in the university curriculum. At the Croatian Universities the Physical education professors tends to use the student’s time spent at the universities for promotion and maintenance of regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle. /Since 1963/1964 Physical education has been a compulsory subject for the students in the first and second year of study at the University of Zagreb./ This academic year the University of Zagreb will celebrate 50 years of the Physical education tradition.

Physical Education and Sport

Abstract: The Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sport, which is accredited by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES), has the following main goals: To prepare professionals who are able to carry out and organise sport, teach in pre-primary and primary education and work appropriately in the fields of sports coaching, physical recreation and physical activities with people who have special needs;

Dual-career through the elite university student-athletes' lenses: The international FISU-EAS survey.

Abstract: Athletes have the right to combine their sport and higher education careers (e.g., dual career), but differences in the recognition of the student-athlete's status and availability of dual career programmes and services exist worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dual career phenomenon through the international student-athletes' views. Student-athletes competing at the 2017 Summer Universiade were recruited to respond a 31-item online survey encompassing demographic characteristics (Q1-8), sport and university engagement (Q9-13), student-athletes' knowledge and possible sources of information regarding dual career (Q14-22); and dual career support at personal, sport, and academic levels (Q23-31). Four hundred twenty-six respondents (males: 46%, females 54%), competing in 22 different sports (individual: 74%, team: 26%) from Africa (4%), America (20%), Asia (34%), Europe (39%), and Oceania (3), had experienced previous international sports events (94%). Differences among continents emerged for sport (p<0.001) and university (p = 0.039) engagement, and transfer time from home to the training venue (p = 0.030). Individual sports student-athletes showed higher sport engagement (p = 0.003) compared to team sports counterparts. Differences among university majors emerged for university engagement (p<0.001). Long absence from classes (57%), limited leisure time (50%), financial uncertainty (44%), reduction of training due to education (42%), and overload feelings (37%) emerged. The majority of the sample resulted not familiar with dual career programmes (60%) and public authorities (69%), envisaging national dual career policies at university (37%) and sport (25%) levels. Multiple relevant dual career supporters at personal, sport, and university levels were identified, mainly parents (86%) and coaches (65%). To strengthen the potential of the student-athletes of the future, a dual career network should be established among several stakeholders, for transnational cooperation and sharing of knowledge and best practices through extensive communication between policy-makers, practitioners and those having a strong supportive dual career role (e.g., parents, coaches, and university sport staff).