These outputs – available to view online at edugolf.eu – are openly accessible for all individuals and organisations across the golf community to inform systems and structures for innovation in golf education.

EDUGOLF, funded under the Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union (Call 2020), was founded on the principle that adapting to change can revitalise the sport and allow it to meet its potential to improve the lives of individuals and society as a whole.

The Project’s stakeholders were tasked with exploring and providing solutions to issues of workforce development, skills and education in golf, with a focus on skills development and education reform, firmly rooted in the belief that those working in golf, in both paid and voluntary positions (and those wishing to do so in the future), are the key to the future of the sport.

The Project was coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment [EOSE] with the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] working as Technical Lead, alongside multiple partners from a variety of areas of the golf and sport worlds – PGA of Belgium; Polish Golf Union [PGU]; French Golf Federation [ffgolf]; Real Federación Española de Golf [RFEG]; PGA of Sweden; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam [ESAB]; National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport.

“Through the EDUGOLF Project, we’ve seen the power of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of golf education,” said CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “The valuable outputs produced will not only benefit golf professionals but also contribute to the overall growth and development of the sport. We’re proud to have led this project with EOSE and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the golfing community.”

EOSE Director, Aurélien Favre, added: “EDUGOLF has been a journey of discovery and progress, showcasing the potential for education reform to drive positive change within the golf industry. The collaboration between EOSE, CPG, and our esteemed partners has resulted in invaluable resources that will shape the future of golf education. We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this project and excited to see the lasting impact it will have on golf’s workforce across Europe.”

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

The Project built upon strong foundations of work from across the partnership and another Erasmus+-supported programme, Golf Stand. The outputs from that project were game-changing and have shown an impact in education activity across the whole of Europe, but EDUGOLF was able to provide a basis for many of the Golf Stand outputs to be modernised and advanced even further ensuring a continued forward-thinking and future-proofing legacy of the work.

PROJECT OUTPUTS

The outputs generated by the Project are designed to be leveraged by all parts of the golf industry to help inform and align the development of various occupations.

Outputs 02 – 05 are largely built on the research and insights generated by the Research Report in Output 01 made up of literature review, partner desk research across Europe, surveys, interviews and focus groups for a wide-ranging and holistic view of the workforce landscape.

1 – A research report on changing realities and tendencies of the golf labour market and education requirements.

2 – New occupational standards that show clear benchmarks of excellent practice and knowledge specification for golf facility staff to be competent in their jobs.

3 – An Education and Training Handbook that provides advice, direction and guidance for the development of learning programmes.

4 – Innovative online learning modules built on the principles of the handbook in relevant topics areas with detailed content in an e-learning format.

5 – A strategic action plan to ensure continuity and implementation of the Occupational Standards, Education and Training Handbook, and online learning.

NEXT STEPS

Now the Project has concluded, it is Output 5 that will be put into action to initially share the Project’s findings across the continent and drive awareness of its work, closely followed by practical applications.

The Project’s partners have already begun to incorporate the occupational standards within education frameworks and programmes, alongside provision of the content generated as part of the online learning modules developed.

All outputs from the Project are open-access and representatives from the Project Partnership are available to support those who wish to utilise them within their work and activity.

Thanks on behalf of the Project goes to all those involved in the partnership, all who contributed and supported the research and output creation activities, and to the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.

. . . . .

Outputs from the Project are already available to view at edugolf.eu and queries or requests to access the full online learning elements can be directed to info@edugolf.eu

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Belgium; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federación Española de Golf [RFEG]; PGA of Sweden; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport.

The event was organised as part of the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] Learning and Performance Summit which took place over several days.

The event began with EOSE Director of Standards, Ben Gittus, introducing the EDUGOLF project and involving the audience with a series of interactive polls linked to the themes of the EDUGOLF project which aimed to modernise education and training in golf. Ben also presented the key results from the Research Report produced as an output of the project.

Next, Wojciech Waśniewski, CPG Executive Director – Knowledge Development, presented the new Occupational Standards for Professionals in Golf. The standards describe the competences, skills and knowledge needed for effective performance in various job roles in golf. Wojciech also presented the EDUGOLF Education and Training Handbook which aims to support the modernisation of golf education in line with the key aim of growing the game.

Participants took part in group work to test their understanding of the outputs and describe how they could be used by different parts of the golf industry, including employers, training providers and individual coaches or manages.

Look out for the publication of all the EDUGOLF outputs in the New Year!

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

At the end of March 2023, EDUGOLF project partners from across Europe convened in the beautiful city of Malmö, Sweden, for the 5th full partner meeting, hosted by PGA of Sweden. EDUGOLF runs from January 2021 – December 2023 and is jointly led by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). EDUGOLF is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

With a clear focus on growing the game, EDUGOLF’s overall aim is to modernise education and training to meet the changing skills needs of golf in Europe.

PROGRESS SO FAR: RESEARCH AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

As the project enters its final year, Wojciech Waśniewski (CPG) was pleased to report that the first planned output from the project, the European Research Report on the Changing Realities and Tendencies of the Golf Labour Market and Education Requirements, was now finalised and being prepared for publication in the summer of 2023.

Geoff Carroll (EOSE) updated the partners on the second main output, a comprehensive framework of occupational standards, knowledge and skills for the industry. The framework contains over 100 standards covering all key areas of strategic and operational management, sales and marketing, community engagement, game development, events, and all levels of coaching from introductory to elite performance. The standards, skills and knowledge framework is almost ready, with only some minor reformatting and amendments to be done.

NEW EDUCATION AND TRAINING

With outputs 1 and 2 almost ready, the partners turned their attention to the third output, an Education and Training Handbook for Golf in Europe.  The handbook will provide advice, direction and guidance for the development of learning programmes to help professionals in golf (both paid and volunteers) reach the competence required to work in a variety of roles in golf matching the requirements of the occupational standards.

Having endorsed the structure and content of the handbook at their last meeting in Warsaw, the partners divided into breakout groups to begin developing a series of learning module outlines for coaching, game development and management. These module outlines will form a vital section of the handbook by giving training providers guidance on topic areas, learning outcomes, European Qualification Framework (EQF) levels, credit values, suggested content, delivery and assessment methods for each of the modules.

Each group used the occupational standards to identify priority topic areas, developed some preliminary module outlines and agreed a process to complete the task through future online meetings.

INNOVATIVE ONLINE LEARNING

The next major task for the partners in Malmö was to finalise arrangements for the development of innovative online learning courses to support continuing professional development in the industry. The project will use an external online course designer to put the courses together once the partners have identified appropriate content. Three potential topic areas were initially agreed for further development and all partners undertook to seek additional content from their own organisations.

DISSEMINATION

Finally, the partners planned some key dissemination activities to ‘spread the word’ across the golf industry. These activities include national stakeholder workshops in seven European countries in the summer and a final European conference – Modernising Golf Education and Training in Europe – in the last quarter of 2023 which will bring together the industry’s main education and training leads.

After the meeting, Wojciech Waśniewski, Executive Director – Knowledge Development of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “From a CPG perspective, it’s really satisfying to see how the key outputs of EDUGOLF are coming together as planned. We can now see how the building blocks for the project’s original vision – growing the European game and retaining the new wave of golfers through more market driven and modern approaches to education and training – are falling into place. With the right support from the industry going forward, EDUGOLF will transform the way we prepare and develop our workforce for many years to come.”

Geoff Carroll, EOSE’s Director for Skills Development commented “EDUGOLF continues to demonstrate EOSE’s fundamental philosophy that workforce development must be firmly based on industry needs and up-to-date flexible approaches to education and training which match those needs. It is pleasing to see how the partners, who represent key national and international stakeholders in the game, have united behind this philosophy and are beginning to see the concrete outcomes.”

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

On the 3rd and 4th of November 2022 the partners in the EDUGOLF project met for their fourth meeting in Warsaw, Poland, hosted by the Polish Golf Union. The EDUGOLF project runs from January 2021 – December 2023 and is jointly led by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). EDUGOLF is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

RESEARCH

The research phase of EDUGOLF is exploring topics such as the economic and social value of golf, successful initiatives for growing the game, trends which will impact on the golf market, traditional and emerging occupations, and key competences for the golf workforce.

The partners reviewed and discussed the first draft of a full Research Report including findings from a desk research, successful survey of national golf organisations, interviews with effective golf employers as well as a focus group of young people’s perceptions of golf. Most importantly, the report presents implications for the next outputs of the project. The project’s research working group will now incorporate all project partners’ feedback on the draft, consult on the draft with the wider industry and publish the report in 2023.

STANDARDS

A core output from EDUGOLF will be a new set of occupational standards for the golf industry made up of competences required of the golf workforce.

At the meeting, the partners reviewed a draft of the industry’s functional map and over 100 individual standards in the areas of golf management, coaching, game development and events. The standards include key competences, good practice indicators, skills and knowledge required to fulfil the key functions in golf organisations.

Similar to the research report, the standards working group will now implement the partners’ feedback on the draft, re-write the standards to an agreed format, and run a round of external consultation with the industry to ensure that the standards are comprehensive, clear and represent best practice in golf in order to become a useful resource for golf employers, training providers and individuals working in the industry.

EDUCATION

EDUGOLF will produce a Training Handbook for the golf industry as well as new e-learning modules for professionals in golf. At the meeting, the partners initially agreed on the content and key areas to be included in the EDUGOLF Training Handbook, including updated role descriptors for key occupations, a range of example module outlines, example qualifications structures, as well as guidance on development and delivery of effective golf education and training. Partners also started to identify potential topics that could be developed into e-learning modules for the industry, based on the findings of the research phase of the project as well as the updated occupational standards. A working group will continue working on the handbook and start developing e-learning modules with the aim of discussing the outputs at the next partner meeting hosted by the PGA of Sweden in March/April 2023.

After the meeting, Wojciech Waśniewski, Executive Director – Knowledge Development of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “As a Pole, I hope the attending representatives enjoyed their time in Warsaw both in and outside of the main meetings. During the workshops we have received valuable feedback from all project partners, allowing us to continue the development of outputs for the benefit of the golf industry”.

Geoff Carroll, EOSE’s Director for Skills Development commented “This was a really positive and dynamic meeting which showed the fantastic progress the partners have made in developing these important products for the future of the game and the education of its workforce. Everyone present was highly motivated and made valuable contributions to the discussions. I feel confident we are heading for even greater achievements in 2023. Watch this space!”

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

On the 24th and 25th of March 2022 the partners in the EU funded EDUGOLF project met for their third meeting in Madrid, Spain, hosted by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG). After the first two meetings were held online this was the first face-to-face meeting of the partners.

At the start of the meeting the partners expressed their support and solidarity with colleagues from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES) which is a full partner in the EDUGOLF project.

RESEARCH

The research phase of EDUGOLF is exploring topics such as the economic and social value of golf, types of organisations in golf, occupations, and key competences for the golf workforce.

The partners considered the first findings from the EDUGOLF survey of golf organisations and made plans for the next stage of research which will be interviews with golf employers about skills of the workforce, successful initiatives for growing the game, and trends which will impact on the golf market. A draft EDUGOLF Research Report will be produced before the next partner meeting in November.

STANDARDS

A core output from EDUGOLF will be a new set of occupational standards for the golf industry made up of competences required of the golf workforce.

At the meeting, the partners considered the key purpose, or mission, of the golf industry and the main functional areas such as events, coaching and management, to produce the “functional map” which is the starting point for the development of detailed occupational standards.

The results from the meeting will be considered by the EDUGOLF sub-groups for golf coaching standards, and golf management standards, which are meeting regularly and will produce new draft standards before the next meeting.

EDUCATION

EDUGOLF will produce a Training Handbook for the golf industry as well as new e-learning modules for professionals in golf. At the meeting, the partners brainstormed the key topics to be included in the EDUGOLF Training Handbook, including:

• Learning outcomes
• Module outlines
• Delivery methods
• Quality assurance
• Accreditation
• Assessment
• Align with career pathways
• Tutors/ assessors
• Align with EDUGOLF standards
• Learning time
• E-learning
• Overlap with other sports
• Theory/ practical
• Selection criteria

The Training Handbook will be an invaluable resource for the golf industry and the future of golf education in Europe.

After the meeting, Ian Randell, CEO of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “It was so good to finally get together for a face-to-face meeting with all of our colleagues in the project for two days of discussion and progress in the superb facilities of the RFEG at the Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid”.

Visit the project web page at https://edugolf.eu You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe on the website to be kept up to date.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

RECEIVE FUTURE CPG NEWS

VISIT EDUGOLF

The 27th of April 2021 saw the kick-off meeting for EDUGOLF; a new project funded through the Erasmus+ Sport programme of the European Union. The European Observatoire of Sport and Employment [EOSE] and the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] have joined forces to lead this innovative golf education and skills development project in partnership with eight leading organisations from the worlds of golf and education.

The EDUGOLF project is founded on the principle that adapting to change can revitalise the sport of golf and allow it to meet its potential to improve the lives of individuals and society as a whole.

The focus of the 3-year EDUGOLF project will be on skills development and education reform, firmly rooted in the belief that those working in golf, in both paid and voluntary positions (and those wishing to do so in the future), are the key to the future of the sport.

The main outputs of the EDUGOLF project include:

• A Research report on changing realities and tendencies of the golf labour market and education requirements
• European Occupational Standards for golf
• Innovative online learning to meet the changing skills needs of golf in Europe

At the kick-off meeting the partners focussed on the comprehensive research phase of the project which will take place over the next 12 months and will include desk research and a survey of national golf organisations. Partners contributed a range of views and signposted to existing sources to inform the research which will be overseen by a dedicated research sub-group.

The agenda of this first full partner meeting also covered expectations of the project, confirmation of the work plan, project administration and the importance of wide communication and dissemination activities.

Ian Randell, Chief Executive for the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] said, “We want golf to be inclusive, sustainable and life-enhancing, the people working in the game are crucial to achieving these aims and the EDUGOLF project will help to make sure they have the right skills”.

Ben Gittus, Director of Standards for EOSE, said, “Despite the meeting taking place online due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, the commitment and passion of all partners to achieve the project aims for the benefit of the golf industry and future generations of golfers is very clear”.

You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe on the website to be kept up to date.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

RECEIVE FUTURE CPG NEWS

VISIT EDUGOLF