FISU’s Student Ambassador Programme has had another excellent year as the 2022-2023 season moves into its final months. This programme, first launched in 2018, creates a valuable link between FISU and the student communities in which FISU has a presence, helping to improve visibility and awareness of the university sport movement. The programme also engages participants with the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy which takes place in June and September.

The 2022-2023 year for FISU Student Ambassadors has been an important one as the world, and world of sport, continues to move past the challenges of the pandemic. The education sessions and activities that took place provided students a broad look at the world, and world of sport, with insights from multiple presenters. Cultural webinars on the Americas and Oceania, discussions on gender equality in sport, a presentation on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and clean sport, considerations of volunteerism in sport, as well as regular discussions on dual career of being a student and an athlete were all part of the year’s sessions.

FISU Student Ambassadors also took part in multiple events over the course of the 2022-2023 season. A prime example was the more than 40 who took part and organised events for the International Day of University Sport (IDUS) in September of 2022, which included a photo challenge. The FISU World Forum in Costa Rica welcomed 12 FISU Student Ambassadors, while eight played roles at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Winter. There will also be at least six FISU Student Ambassadors who will travel to the upcoming Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games Summer that start with the opening ceremony 28 July.

Since its inception the FISU Student Ambassador programme has connected with 123 National University Sports Federations (NUSF) and has engaged over 400 participants. Among other expectations, these student ambassadors are asked to participate in university sport related events, whether near their communities or through FISU, and also to develop and implement individual action plans that can impact university sport in their countries. In 2022-2023 there have also been five National Volunteer Leaders Academies in Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Portugal, and the Republic of Korea. All this valuable work extends and helps develop university sport in multiple communities around the world which sees more people engage in the movement.

Next up within the 2022-2023 season is the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA) part one that will take place 23 June starting at 13.00 CET. This session will outline current happenings with FISU, will introduce the 2023 FVLA participants, and will highlight the results from the 2022-2023 FISU Student Ambassador programme. Registration for this session can be done online.

Written by Doug McLean