160 participants from 40 countries and regions from all five continents will be leaving Östersund as the FISU World Forum closed with great student projects presentations and the promise to grow even further in Brasilia in two years.
On the last day of the Forum, the students swapped places with the professionals and took the stage too present the projects they had been working on all week.
Eight groups in total introduced their project posters with original presentations. Two groups worked on each of the four following themes:
- Introducing innovative student wellbeing activities across university communities
- How to promote education activities at FISU events in a way that it is interactive and engaging for students
- Integrate para sports into national university sport events
- How can a National University Sports Federation integrate environmental sustainable practices?
FISU Locker Room
“Your reset is one scan away”
A set of resources (mental, physical and social wellbeing) made available to any student, especially addressed to people who don’t know who to approach for help. It is all about giving students a safe space.
Get FISUcated
“Educate, evolve, empower”
This is an online challenge, where students compete for themselves and for their countries by answering a set of quizzes about the four pillars of FISU’s Strategy 2031. A leader board on a big screen shows the scores live at every event.
“Every athlete wants to be the strongest and the fastest, we want to find the smartest!”
Same Court, Level Playing Field
A framework for universities where mixed teams compete in the para format or each sport.
A minimum number players with disabilities is non negotiable.
Reverse integration has been studied for a while and is successful.
“We want to prove that disability isn’t a barrier to belonging”.
FISU Sustainability Ambassadors
FSA is no longer FISU Student Ambassadors, but FISU Sustainability Ambassadors
“Students form the biggest community of our ecosystem and we believe in our power”.
The idea is to set realistic goals, distribute green points in a rewards system and name the winners every year.
From Champions to Campus
“We believe there is a lack of direct opportunities for spectators and students to learn about FISU”
Here former FISU student-athletes, who have become famous champions, visit events and campuses and tell students and spectators alike about their journey.
A meet and greet format that contributes to creating a tangible fanbase.
Eco Event Accreditation
All events are under pressure to be as sustainable as possible. ISO accreditations exist, but aren’t really aimed at university sports events.
This is first a practical guidebook and toolkit and the event will be judged by an independent accreditation committee.
“An accredited event is more likely to get institutional funding, sponsorship and more participants as students care a lot about the planet.”
Wellbeing finds you!
Students who need help often lack the courage, the energy and the time to look for it.
In this project, Wellbeing Ambassadors go and find the people who need help.
They are trained by FISU, but employed by the universities.
“Universities invest, FISU connects”.
FISU Para-Sport Ambassadors Programme
“When it comes to para-athletes, there is an evident Absence of representation, awareness and connexion. Look, there isn’t even one para student ambassador!”
This group wants to create a specific programme for ambassadors to help and support or students with disabilities. For example by speaking sign language.
“This is not going to change the world, but it will for sure change their world!”
And the winner is…
- 1. FISU Para-Sport Ambassadors Programme
- 2. FISU Locker Room
- 3. From Champions to Campus
Turning our ideas into actions
After the prize-giving and group pictures, it was time to say goodbye.
Lovisa Broms, President of the Östersund 2026 FISU World Forum said: ” Hopefully you have learnt here that new friendships are often born around “fika” (the Swedish tradition of sharing a coffee and a sweet), that physical activity can take many forms, like Brännboll, summer biathlon of even communal dancing. But what matters aren’t the formats, it is the connexions they create. Have a safe journey home and you will always be welcome here!”
Matthias Remund, FISU Secretary General and CEO made a promise to the audience: “Thank you so much for all these great projects. We will discuss all of them when we get back to the FISU headquarters in our development meetings. Thank you for the great Swedish hospitality. You have a culture that puts people at the centre and we all felt this. Long live the FISU World Forum!”
Verena Burk, FISU Vice-President and Chair of the Education Committee also shared her satisfaction. “The importance of this forum is measured in what we take home from it. We have spent five inspiring days here, now let’s turn our ideas into actions!”
See you in two years in Brasilia
And the last official part of the ceremony was the passing of the flag from Lovisa Broms and Östersund to Mario Ferro and Brasilia, where the 2028 FISU World Forum will take place. “We will take care of every member of this community and make sure the students’ voices are heard. We look forward to writing this next chapter in Brazil.”
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