The Faculty of Sports Education is a modern, open to innovations and constantly developing academic establishment with well-equipped facilities and advanced research equipment.

The mission of the Faculty is to train sports coaches, physical education teachers, social educators, sports psychologists, trourism and sports managers as well as recreation and tourism specialists by developing their professional skills and competences.

The goals of the Faculty are:

 

The sources of the Faculty are traced back as far as 1945 when the first two courses were formed in the newly established Lithuanian State Institute of Physical Education. At that time all students were enrolled in one single study programme Physical Education and Sport. As the Faculty grew over the years new study programmes were introduced: Sports Coaching in 1967, Tourism and Sports Management in 1995, Social Pedagogy in 1999 and Sports Psychology in 2000. Starting from 2002 the Faculty offers part-time studies in Sports Coaching and Tourism and Sports Management and in 2004 the Faculty launched part-time studies in Social Pedagogy. Currently the Faculty offers six undergraduate, five Master’s and one doctoral study programmes.

 

 

The students have a unique opportunity to combine studies with elite sports activities. Sport plays an important role in personality development as it builds self-discipline, teaches to respect rules, strive for goals and play fair. Thus, for physical education teachers and social educators sport serves as an excellent method for informal education.

 

The Faculty staff consists of active and highly skilled teachers who know how to transfer theoretical and practical knowledge and inspire students to carry on research work and master their professional skills. By participating in international projects and initiatives, the Faculty staff gain access to the latest information and knowledge that is shared with students as well as in-service teachers, coaches and representatives of other sport related professions.

 

 

Every study programme provides students with fundamental theoretical knowledge and research skills. The students have a possibility to extend their education and gain international experience by taking part in the international mobility programmes. Eventually, practical placement that is an integral part of the curriculum provides work experience that is of great value to the student’s future career.

 

The Faculty has developed close cooperation with local and foreign universities, different public and private institutions for the training of higly skilled professionals. Academics and researchers in the Faculty are actively involved in different international projects, especially in the EU supported Lifelong Learning Programme, and in the work of international organisations, such as European College of Sport Science (ESSC), European Network of Sport Science, Education and Employment (ENSSEE) and European Association for Sport Management (EASM). The researchers collaborate intensively in joint research projects with leading scientists from the European and American universities in education, sport science and other research fields.

 

The faculty maintains close links with schools, day care centres, tourism and sport organisations, sports federations and clubs and provides research services to national sports teams.