Germany and Chile strengthen their research links in sport and physical education at the UFRO

This activity was part of an academic project of the Universidad de La Frontera (EXT17-0366) and organized by Dr. Jaime Carcamo of the Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, who got his doctoral degree in Germany.

One of the speakers was Dr. Lutz Vogt, Vice-president of the section of Health and Movement of the German Society of Sport Science (DVS), who presented the structure and functions of the German Society of Sport Science.

Dr. Lutz Vogt spoke about the experiences and the influence the Society has on public sport policies in Germany. He stated that the Society is very important at the moment of decision-making and that “if in Chile all Associations that are linked to sport would work together and be represented by one voice, it would be possible to imitate the German model.”

“When the Ministry of Education wants to draft a law, they ask the DVS for our opinion and what can be done. We are in direct contact with the Ministry of Education”, specified Lutz.

UFRO GRADUATE IN GERMANY

Another presentation was made by Javier Gonzalez who graduated from the UFRO in Physical Education Teaching, Sports and Recreation and is working on his doctorate in Sports Medicine at the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences of the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany, since six years.

He said that when he arrived at the Institute for Sports Medicine, he realized that there were a lot of research lines. “The fastest and most specific one seemed to be the physical therapy in cancer patients. The universities work in strong collaboration with the clinics in order to be able to work with patients and do experimental research.”

He added that “in Germany they use a holistic approach. When you study Physical Education there are two points of view: the scientific and the pedagogical side of sport. When you study Physical Education in Germany, you are also part of the clinical setting and working with patients. This is not the case in Chile.”

According to him, this was the point he liked most about the doctorate he is doing in Frankfurt. He would like to incorporate that in Chile, too. Especially, because you can accomplish so much in cancer patients through sport.

“The life expectancy of cancer patients (not the most aggressive types of cancer) increases from six to eight years and the sports therapy expert is the one who will accompany the patient, once the rehabilitation phase is over. And that is where the experts in physical education and movement come into play and get the main actors in this process.”

GOALS

Dr. Jaime Carcamo, one of the organizers of this event, met the speakers when he did his doctorate in Germany and managed to bring them together for this event at the UFRO, which met the objectives, according to him.

“The Department of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation wants to create national and international networks. This is why we wanted to use the contact with our German peers and invited them to our University to learn about how sports science, physical education and other relevant topics are approached and developed in sports medicine in Germany”, Dr. Carcamo explained.

Besides, he said that they “want the academic staff and students to hear about the possibility of academic exchange, as it was the case for me and Mr. Gonzalez.”

Another presentation came from Dr. Winfried Banzer, the dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, who spoke about the importance of physical activity.