The European Network of Academic Sports Services is hosting its annual forum in Ireland this week with two days in Dublin on Sunday and Monday followed by three days at Ulster University concluding today.
There are 110 delegates representing nearly 40 universities across 13 countries in attendance, sharing information and learning.
Sport for Business has been involved in helping to build the programme and Rob Hartnett has been the MC and moderator through the week.
Today’s final day of conversation and discussion will feature sessions with Maggie Arriola Fagan of Notre Dame University and John Shields, CEO of the Manchester United Foundation.
Earlier in the week there were tours of TU Dublin and Trinity College Dublin as well as a trip out to the Sport Ireland Campus and the Sport Ireland Institute of Sport. In Belfast we have had tours of Queens University Sports facilities as well as the Jordanstown and Belfast City campuses of Ulster University.
Yesterday’s formalities were opened by Ulster Chancellor Cathy Gormley-Heenan who spoke of the importance of sport and physical activity as part of the student experience.
We were then joined by Dan Matthews of British Universities and College Sports and Ciaran O Híarnáin of Student Sport Ireland.
Marie Murphy presented on research and understandings of the attitude of the different generations focusing on the current crop of Gen Z and the next of Generation Alpha.
This is the 26th edition of the ENAS summit and it has been a pleasure to be a part of. Trinity Head of Sport Michelle Tanner is a former President and Irish Universities are strongly represented at this year’s event.
Brian Mullins of UCD was a driver of the network before his untimely passing and his lifetime friend and legendary GAA coach and manager Micky Whelan has been partaking in the event throughout as well.
Brilliantly organised by Nigel Dobson, David Flynn and their teams, it has doubled up as showing off the strength of the student sporting offering across the island of Ireland.
The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.
