Presentation of the 2021/22 postgraduate course and closing ceremony of the 2020/21 course

This Wednesday, the Athletic Club Foundation and the Bilbao Faculty of Education (University of the Basque Country) presented the new 2021/22 academic year of the university postgraduate course “Sport, Education and Coexistence: Protecting Children and Young People”. After the success of the first year of the course, the number of places offered will increase next year, going from 20 to 30. Applications for the course are now open and can be made HERE.

The event, held in the central BAT (VIP) ring of the San Mamés stadium, was attended by Juan Carlos Ercoreca, Chairman of the Athletic Club Foundation, and Jon Vázquez Eguskiza, General Manager, together with Gontzal Suances, Iñaki Alonso and Ibon Oleagagoitia. The University of the Basque Country was represented by, Asier Romero, Dean of the Faculty of Education in Bilbao, and lecturers Laura Mintegi, Mari Mar Boillos and Isra Alonso. Miren Irune Muguruza, Director of Families and Children, also took part in the event on behalf of the Basque Government, which has joined the project for the new academic year. Lastly, Itxaso Erroteta, Councillor for Youth and Sport, and Marcos Muro, Manager of Bilbao Kirolak, attended on behalf of the Bilbao City Council.

Asier Romero highlighted the importance of this postgraduate course at its presentation, saying: “This degree is another tool on the important path of child protection, with the aim of guaranteeing the fundamental rights of girls, boys and adolescents.”

Closing ceremony of the 2020/21 academic year

Prior to the presentation ceremony of the 2021/22 university course, the closing ceremony took place for the first year of the postgraduate course “Sport, Education and Coexistence: Protecting Children and Young People”. The 20 students who filled the places offered were awarded certificates their Specialist Diplomas.

This qualification is on the rise in terms of employment, following the approval of the Organic Law on the Protection of Children and Young People from Violence on April 16. This law contains a chapter entirely dedicated to sport, which requires sports clubs to have a Child Protection Policy and a Child Protection Officer, and a minimum level of training in this area for sports staff.