UNIVERSITIES

WFF-WBBF, ISU and Universities Around the World – Decades of International Academic Cooperation

Alongside its extensive and active international sports activities, we are launching a series of publications dedicated to the cooperation between the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University (ISU) with universities in various countries around the world.

The origins of this cooperation date back to 1986, when qualification courses for athletes and methodological seminars for coaches and sports specialists were first organized in Klaipėda, Lithuania. Over time, these initiatives developed into an international network of educational and academic partnerships, extending beyond sports practice to include higher education and scientific collaboration.

For nearly four decades, the World WFF-WBBF Federation has consistently expanded its cooperation with universities, aiming to improve the professional qualifications of athletes, coaches, judges, and sports administrators, while promoting scientific research and international academic exchange. Since 2015, these activities have also been carried forward by the International Sport University (ISU), which has become an important platform for international educational projects and academic cooperation.

Among the Federation's most significant academic partners are one of the largest universities in the Indian State of Punjab, with approximately 200,000 students, the Jozef Raciborski University in Poland, the University of Physical Education in Bydgoszcz, the Polish State Higher School Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki, the Ivan Franko University of Physical Education in Lviv (Ukraine), Stavropigion University, and a number of other institutions of higher education throughout Europe and Asia.

These partnerships have gone far beyond formal agreements and official visits. Over the years, numerous international conferences, seminars, lectures, qualification development programs, and joint academic projects have been organized, enabling the exchange of scientific knowledge, educational methodologies, and professional experience. Such activities have significantly contributed to the development of sports science, the improvement of coach education, and the strengthening of international professional cooperation.

The greatest value of this collaboration lies in its long-term commitment to connecting the practical world of sport with the academic community. This partnership has enabled the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University not only to organize international sporting events but also to become active promoters of sports science, education, and professional development worldwide.

In this series of publications, we will present the major stages of this international cooperation, partnerships with universities across different countries, joint projects, significant meetings, and their outcomes. This is an important chapter in the history of the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University, reflecting their enduring commitment to uniting sport, science, education, and international cooperation.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt