International LSU project is coming to an end
Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) is successfully expanding international activities, as an international project “Cooperation and Capacity-Building of Institutions Acting in the Field of Sports Education of Lithuania and Norway” is coming to an end. The project, which was implemented by LSU, involved eighteen partners from Lithuania (sports and cultural centres in districts and cities) and a partner from abroad – Norwegian School of Sport Science.
The aim of the project was to convey best practices and knowledge of the Norwegian authorities through regional policy objectives in the field of sports to municipalities and institutions in Lithuanian cities implementing regional sports policy. Norway is one of the leaders in the fields of regional sports policy and wellness in Europe. Therefore, it was important to uptake its best practices.
The project was carried out under the programme “Capacity-Building and Institutional Cooperation between Beneficiary State and Norwegian Public Institutions, Local and Regional Authorities” and was funded by Norwegian Financial Mechanism.
Representatives of Lithuanian municipalities and institutions implementing regional sports policy went on an internship in Norway. Later, lecturers from Norway came to Lithuanian Sports University where they conducted theoretical seminars to project partners. In spring, wellness and sports recreation specialists from Norway together with LSU representatives visited different regions of Lithuania, carried out practical trainings and introduced the most popular physical activities in Norway.
Specialists from Norway demonstrated physical activity lessons, taught emotional and lively warm-up games, introduced various sports equipment, shared their experience on community involvement in physical activity and delivered theoretical lectures in eighteen Lithuanian municipalities.
All in all, the training involved almost 500 sports and wellness specialists and community members. Sports coaches and healthy lifestyle specialists working in regions took over Norwegian best practices in order to encourage their community members to live active lives without harming health.
The project came to an end, but LSU and Norwegian School of Sport Science have an intention to continue cooperation. It is planned to develop a joint curriculum project and recommendations on how to adapt the Norwegian experience to local sporting activities. The two higher education institutions also intend to sign a cooperation agreement and carry out the exchange of students, enable them to go on internships in Norway and monitor the implementation of the programmes of public involvement into healthy lifestyle.
