Български
Upskilling Coaches
International UPSkilling Coaches meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania
17.12.2025
On 16–17 December 2025, the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, hosted an international partner meeting within the “UPSkilling Coaches: A New Methodology to Empower Female Coaches in Minority Sports” project, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Korneliya Naydenova, Diana Petrakieva, and Ivaylo Zdravkov represented Bulgarian sports development association during the meeting.
The project brings together partners from Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, and Hungary, united by a shared mission to support female coaches in minority sports through the development of an innovative methodology and modern educational resources.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the project’s progress and planned the next steps. A strong emphasis was placed on practical training and experiential learning. As part of the working sessions, non-formal education tools were actively used, the project’s e-learning platform was tested, and the newly developed ToolBox – featuring practical sessions and methodologies for working with female coaches – was explored and evaluated.
Key topics discussed included:
• The development and pilot implementation of the e-learning platform and self-learning tools;
• The creation of a sustainability and dissemination strategy, as well as the establishment of a European network of coaches;
• Administrative and financial matters, along with the results of the project’s first internal evaluation.
The UPSkilling Coaches project has a duration of 24 months and aims to enhance the qualifications, motivation, and professional development opportunities of female coaches in minority sports. Its main outcomes include an in-depth research report, a training methodology, an e-learning platform, and a European network for experience sharing and mutual support.
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the project’s progress and planned the next steps. A strong emphasis was placed on practical training and experiential learning. As part of the working sessions, non-formal education tools were actively used, the project’s e-learning platform was tested, and the newly developed ToolBox – featuring practical sessions and methodologies for working with female coaches – was explored and evaluated.
Key topics discussed included:
• The development and pilot implementation of the e-learning platform and self-learning tools;
• The creation of a sustainability and dissemination strategy, as well as the establishment of a European network of coaches;
• Administrative and financial matters, along with the results of the project’s first internal evaluation.
The UPSkilling Coaches project has a duration of 24 months and aims to enhance the qualifications, motivation, and professional development opportunities of female coaches in minority sports. Its main outcomes include an in-depth research report, a training methodology, an e-learning platform, and a European network for experience sharing and mutual support.
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
