The role of METKA\u2019s Sports Coordinator varies slightly from year to year depending on current needs and the expertise of the board members. However, certain responsibilities remain the same annually. These include participating in meetings organized by the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) several times a year, culminating in the federation\u2019s annual assembly in November, where the activities for the following year are decided and, for example, the next board is elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the past couple of years, Sports Coordinators have had the opportunity to participate in the Elite Sports-Friendly Higher Education Institution audit process, as well as in the planning of new sports services following the end of Zone, the joint sports service operated by student unions in the Helsinki Metropolitan area. This year, I also have the opportunity to offer my expertise to other higher education institutions, as the organizations previously involved in Zone are likewise developing new sports services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding MeMove sports and wellbeing services, I am primarily responsible for member services, including resolving issues, answering questions, and activating memberships. In addition, I write our newsletter and help create social media content. There have also been discussions about making greater use of my wellbeing expertise. Last year, I had the opportunity to share this knowledge across different schools in Metropolia by providing insight into how teaching could be developed in a way that better supports wellbeing, helping students maintain their focus throughout lectures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
METKA was involved from the very beginning of the process. My predecessor participated in writing the audit report, while I, together with our former Executive Director, was invited to take part in the audit interviews. Our role in these interviews was to highlight both the strengths related to sport, physical activity, and studying, as well as the areas requiring improvement, particularly from the perspective of balancing academic studies and athletic careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Receiving the quality label is a significant achievement, as it is by no means guaranteed. Considerable effort is required to earn the label and, importantly, to retain it in the future. Although the label has been awarded, it can also be withdrawn if the identified areas for improvement are not addressed. In my opinion, this is an excellent way to ensure that Metropolia continues to enhance the support available to student-athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my role, this naturally brings some additional responsibilities, but it is always rewarding to work on issues that I care deeply about. I see this as an important step toward creating a more sport-friendly higher education culture. Looking ahead, I hope to see an increasing number of students at Finnish higher education institutions representing their schools at events such as the SELL Games, the student sports competition organized in rotation by Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as at the European Universities Championships. Competing at the European level can be particularly expensive, however, and students will need some form of support if they wish to combine their studies with high-level sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to myself, Metropolia\u2019s Sports Team includes members of Metropolia staff, and its goal is to promote opportunities for student-athletes to pursue dual careers. Within the team, I represent the student perspective and bring attention to potential challenges related to combining studies and sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am always happy to hear directly from student-athletes about these challenges, as I am no longer competing at a high-performance level myself. Nevertheless, this role is my way of continuing to work within the field of sports. During upper secondary school, I was a competitive athlete and had the opportunity to experience how studying and sports can successfully be combined. Of course, challenges arose, but solutions were always found. This same mindset is something I now bring to Metropolia. Balancing sports and studies is not always easy, but whenever both sides are willing to collaborate, solutions can always be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My expertise and experience in sports add significant value to the Sports Team. For example, I have been able to provide alternative approaches to networking-related challenges. In addition, as an active sports coach, I can offer insights into issues affecting athletes and potentially suggest solutions. When I first joined the Sports Team, I was not yet the Sports Coordinator; I was part of METKA\u2019s advocacy team and supported the sports sector specifically because of my expertise in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both parties contribute to improving opportunities for student-athletes in their respective capacities, and when necessary, we jointly bring development needs to the attention of university leadership. During Sports Team meetings, we discuss current topics affecting student-athletes. Sometimes these topics originate from the student union, allowing other members of the Sports Team to contribute their expertise and support. At other times, the process works in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of our key development initiatives is improving networking opportunities among student-athletes. Because student-athletes represent a relatively small student group, it can be difficult for them to find and connect with one another. We are therefore working to develop effective solutions to address this challenge. We have also sought input from students themselves, for example through projects developed as part of the Metropolia Minno\u00ae course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Metropolia is continuously developing opportunities and support services for student-athletes. For example, the services provided by Urhea are easily accessible from several campuses via excellent transport connections, making sport-specific training more convenient, even when carrying larger amounts of training equipment. Two campuses also feature gym and sports hall facilities that enable independent supplementary training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the surrounding area offers excellent opportunities for training in facilities operated by various sports clubs, where such cooperation is a natural part of the sport\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If balancing sports and studies is a concern, we also have skilled study counsellors who can assist with questions and direct students to the appropriate experts if they do not have the answers themselves, including sport-related matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Finland\u2019s largest university of applied sciences, Metropolia offers a broad range of study options across different fields, ensuring that everyone can find a suitable path. Depending on the field of study, programmes may be available in daytime, blended, or fully online formats, making it even easier to combine academic studies with athletic commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Could you describe the responsibilities of METKA\u2019s Sports Coordinator? The role of METKA\u2019s Sports Coordinator varies slightly from year to year depending on current needs and the expertise of the board members. However, certain responsibilities remain the same annually. These include participating in meetings organized by the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) several times a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[37,60,73],"class_list":["post-123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yleinen-en","tag-combining-sports-and-studies","tag-humkk","tag-metka"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n