Fabian Studer

Socio-economic and cultural determinants of sports participation in Switzerland from 2000 to 2008

Abstract This study analyses how socio-economic and cultural variables have impacted on sports participation in Switzerland across time. Theories in behavioural economics are used to formulate a core model assessing the central budget restrictions to sports participation. The analysis is expanded to include intercultural differences between the three Swiss language regions and a longitudinal time perspective. Data is taken from nine waves of the Swiss Household Panel (2000–2008). A descriptive account of trends in sports participation and the variables influencing it over time is followed by regression analyses. Results show a continuation of significant inequalities in Swiss sports participation (in terms of age, income, education) as well as sociocultural differences across language groups. Nonetheless, it can be seen that sport has become more socially permeable over time (socio-economic convergence), and there are also clear signs of sociocultural convergence processes.

The relationship between competencies acquired through Swiss academic sports science courses and the job requirements

Abstract In view of the changes in and growing variety of sports-related occupations, it is highly relevant for educational institutions to know how well the educational contents of their sport science courses meet the professional requirements. This study analyses the relationship between the competencies acquired through academic sports science courses and the requirements of the relevant jobs in Switzerland. The data for this empirical analysis were drawn from a sample of n = 1054 graduates of different academic sport science programmes at all eight Swiss universities. The results show that academic sport science courses primarily communicate sports-specific expertise and practical sports skills. On the other hand, most graduates consider that the acquisition of interdisciplinary competencies plays a comparatively minor role in sport science education, even though these competencies are felt to be an important requirement in a variety of work-related environments and challenges.

Conditions for the career entry of Swiss sports science graduates.

The differentiation and commercialization of the sports domain means that graduates with sports science degrees have more and more occupational fields to choose from. On the other hand, formal admissions criteria are becoming less important in sports-related occupations. This means that graduates need to pursue specific strategies to successfully embark on a career. This article examines which factors determine the career entry of sports science graduates in Switzerland. Aside from the starting salary, non-monetary aspects such as appropriateness of the job for the level of education and job stability were also considered. The empirical study draws on data from a sample of n = 1054 graduates from all Swiss universities, analysing the career entry of sports science graduates. The results show that education-related aspects (e.g. university degree) lead to higher incomes and jobs that are appropriate to ones academic education; however, differences exist between the diverse occupational domains of sport. Furthermore, additional qualifications obtained by sports science graduates and voluntary activities in the field of sport are both associated with higher incomes, particularly in occupations outside sport. However, other factors (e.g. social networks, internships) produce no relevant effects.

Sportwissenschaftliches Studium und Beruf in der Schweiz

Im Zuge der Ausdifferenzierung und Kommerzialisierung des Sports und der damit verbundenen Professionalisierung und Verberuflichung vieler Bereiche haben insbesondere auserschulische sportbezogene Berufsfelder stark an Bedeutung gewonnen. Allerdings gibt es bislang nur wenige Studien, die sowohl die beruflichen Karriereverlaufe von Absolventinnen und Absolventen sportwissenschaftlicher Studiengange aus lebenszeitlicher Perspektive als auch Veranderungen im Berufsfeld Sport aus zeithistorischer Perspektive standortubergreifend analysieren. Dieses Buch zielt darauf ab, bestehende Forschungslucken in diesem Bereich fur die Schweiz zu schliesen. Die Ergebnisse der beiden Studien BASIS und BASIS Future, in denen Absolventenkohorten sportwissenschaftlicher Studiengange aller sportwissenschaftlichen Institute der Schweiz befragt wurden, geben Aufschluss daruber, in welchen Berufsfeldern die Absolventen eine Anstellung finden, wie die Berufskarrieren von Absolventen sportwissenschaftlicher Studiengange verlaufen, welche zeithistorischen Veranderungen sich im Berufsfeld Sport beobachten lassen und welche Determinanten einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf den Karriereverlauf haben. Die beiden Studien zeigen aber auch, dass die Attraktivitat des Studienfaches Sportwissenschaft nicht automatisch bedeutet, dass in verschiedenen sportspezifischen Berufsfeldern tatsachlich eine grose Anzahl stabiler und gut bezahlter Arbeitsplatze vorhanden ist.

Destandardised Career Entry? An Analysis of the Transition to Professional Life by Swiss Sports Science Graduates

Abstract In recent decades, sport has become more and more important as an occupational field, due to the increasing differentiation and commercialisation of sports. This paper will analyse to what extent these developments are associated with destandardisation processes at the time when sports science graduates embark on their professional career. For this purpose, continuous professional trajectories were gathered from a sample of n = 742 sports science graduates from all Swiss universities, to provide retrospective longitudinal data for the complete cohorts (1984/85, 1994/95 and 2004/05). Optimal matching analysis was used to reveal underlying structures, after which the cohorts were compared to check any tendencies towards destandardisation empirically. Only a minority of all Swiss sports scientists is affected by destandardisation tendencies. There is no noteworthy increase in the variety of sequential patterns over time; instead, the normal occupational career remains clearly pronounced across all three cohorts. If anything, a tendency towards destandardised occupational careers may be observed in the field of schools.