Mid Sweden University and IBU signs agreement
Mid Sweden University is the first university to sign a cooperation agreement with IBU, International Biathlon Union. The parties have agreed on a four-year cooperation regarding research and educational activities through IBU Academy.
The agreement is signed by IBU president Olle Dahlin and Anders Fällström, Vice Chancellor of Mid Sweden University and Anna Olofsson, Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences.
– Mid Sweden University is already today one of the leading universities in the world when it comes to biathlon research, and the agreement gives us new opportunities to contribute to increased knowledge and development within both the national and international biathlon sport, which is very gratifying, says Anders Fällström, Vice Chancellor of Mid Sweden University.
– The IBU is delighted to sign this cooperation agreement with Mid Sweden University and advance our capacity for research and education. Mid Sweden University is a highly-respected institution and well-known for its expertise in winter sports and biathlon. This agreement is a first-of-its-kind for the IBU and is part of our ongoing commitment to developing partnerships with international Universities that can support the excellent education and research work being done by our IBU Academy, says IBU president Olle Dahlin.
The IBU Academy offers a wide range of programs at the entrant and professional levels and pursues broad research and creative activities agenda. In addition, as a knowledge resource to the biathlon society, the IBU Academy builds partnerships with other educational institutions, community organizations, government agencies, and the private sector to serve the development of biathlon and impact the sports world.
– Our cooperation will concern, among other things, joint training efforts for both active and trainers in biathlon, but also various types of research projects that will strengthen Mid Sweden University´s position while also benefiting the sport, says Anna Olofsson, Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences.
Marko Laaksonen, associate professor and former head coach of the national teams of biathlon in Finland and Sweden, will be responsible for the agreement on behalf of Mid Sweden University together with Gerold Sattlecker, educational manager at IBU Academy.
– We have had some cooperation with the IBU in the past, but it is of course gratifying that our research and our work with biathlon in general is being noticed and leading to an agreement. This is very positive, says Marko Laaksonen, associate professor at Mid Sweden University.
IBU Development Director Dagmara Gerasimuk said:
– With the Swedish Federation, we have already a strong partner which supports us in our coach education programme, especially with our courses in Östersund. The Mid Sweden University as our academic partner will be the perfect complement for the IBU Academy courses. Furthermore, we see a lot of options for projects like the Dual Career Programme, the Research Grant Programme which we want to accomplish with partners like the Mid Sweden University.
Contacts:
Marko Laaksonen, associate professor and former head coach of the national teams of biathlon in Finland and Sweden, +4610-142 83 84, marko.laaksonen@miun.se
Gerold Sattlecker, educational manager at IBU Academy, gerold.sattlecker@ibu.at, +43 650 5147 111