The Forum and General Meeting were celebrated under the title: “Digital Innovation in University & College Sport”.

Miguel Ángel Torregrosa declares that “sport is an integral part of university life. It promotes the social, mental and physical well-being of our students. it contributes to the university education mission by teaching life long learning skills such as team work, leadership and community values. It helps attract, recruit and retain students, and helps to stay connected with Alumni. Sport also celebrates talent, excellence and achievements. Our network fosters the development of ‘sport for all’ in our universities”, adds Torregrosa.

ENAS and its promotion of physical activity of sports at higher education

The European Network of Academic Sports Services (ENAS) is an association of higher education sports offices in Europe. It is a non-governmental, international alliance with a common interest in the promotion of higher education sport and physical activity. ENAS was founded in 1997 in Chambéry, France and currently has over 120 members from 21 countries in Europe.

University sports in Europe is organised differently in each country. This diversity makes it important to have common goals. As Torregrosa points out: “ENAS is an integrative element for the European movement, because works together with key partners, to provide opportunities to the associated institutions to share experiences that assist them in their development”.

About the role of the representation and its functions, Torregrosa points out that “ENAS, through the Executive Committee, works with the people that are the national representation to attend the local differences that exists and that needs to be considered”. The local support considers relevant to achieve the following targets: To get to know ENAS; to promote ENAS’ events and initiatives; to keep and develop national links for strengthen the reach and relevance of ENAS; to inform to ENAS about the local development; to strengthen the voice of ENAS members in the country, represent local views and share local practices; to highlight local examples that could benefit ENAS member institutions in general, to advise ENAS on issues and topics that may be of interest to them.

Torregrosa points out that “is a great opportunity to work for the commitment of reaching the goals of sustainable development in the fields of physical activity and sports”.

Digital Innovation and universities

Miguel Torregrosa concludes by saying “that the Trento Forum provided the opportunity to learn about the new digital technologies that are leading our society to great transformations. Restructuring our environment, our way of thinking and the way we do things and setting ourselves the objective of the immediate future, the Millennials, which oblige universities, including sports services and facilities, to be prepared to receive them in accordance with the digital capabilities of the student body”.