The FISU World Conference, taking place from 17 to 19 July, brings together numerous research enthusiasts and experts. Held in an iconic location, the event boasts a packed programme featuring keynote speeches and parallel sessions, along with both an opening and a closing ceremony. Look forward to three days of engaging scientific activity!
Please note that this schedule is preliminary and subject to change. Updates may not be reflected here, so we encourage you to consult with the organising team on-site for the most current information.
10:00-11:00 CEST - Opening Ceremony
The official opening of the FISU World Conference brings together leading voices from academia, sport, and politics, marking the start of three days filled with exchange and fresh ideas. In addition to welcome remarks from regional university rectors, Ms Ina Brandes, Member of the State Parliament and Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, will officially open the conference.
The ceremony, hosted by sustainability ambassador Domitilla Barros, will be a special highlight, culminating in the presentation of the FISU Healthy Campus Label by FISU President Leonz Eder.
11:00-11:45 CEST - Keynote I
Subtheme 1: Mental Health and Performance Pressure Among Athletes
Speaker: Prof. Dr Rosemary Purcell
This keynote addresses mental health in elite sport. The speakers will explore the impact of high-pressure situations on athletes' mental well-being, as well as approaches to prevention and intervention in various sporting contexts.
11:45-12:30 CEST - Keynote II
Subtheme 4: Health and Well-Being in Sport and Physical Activity
Speaker: Prof. Dr Willem van Mechelen
This keynote explores the health-promoting effects of physical activity from an interdisciplinary perspective. It highlights concrete measures to support both physical and mental well-being, while emphasising the relevance of the topic for sustainable societal development.
12:30-13:45 CEST - Lunch Break
Participants with an A1 or A2 ticket will receive lunch on all three conference days. Lunch will be served via food trucks located in the outdoor area of the conference site during the designated lunch breaks. The menu features a varied selection of vegetarian and vegan options, with a focus on fresh, regional ingredients. Meals will be distributed exclusively through lunch vouchers, which can be collected at the Information Point in the Pumpenhaus. Please note: food cannot be purchased directly from the trucks, and lunch service is only available with a valid voucher.
Guests holding an A3 ticket are welcome to visit the public food trucks available near the conference area during lunch hours. Please follow the onsite signage for directions to the public catering area.
All catering services, including snacks and meals, are provided by our official partners Ruhrfeuer and Stolzenhoff—ensuring a sustainable and regionally rooted culinary experience.
13:45-15:00 CEST - Parallel Session 1
Time | Title | Speaker | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
13:45-14:00 | Pregnancy and elite sport: A scoping review | Isabell Thal | Isabell Thal, Jana Nolte, Kirsten Legerlotz, Prof. Dr. Petra Platen |
14:00-14:15 | Menstrual cycle monitoring – a practical approach in elite female soccer player | Jana Nolte | Jana Nolte, Marilena Krah, Jan Spielmann, Prof. Dr. Petra Platen |
14:15-14:30 | Menstrual cycle-related variation in sprint performance in female track and field athletes: a pilot study | Emily Büthe | Emily Büthe |
14:30-14:45 | Female competitive athlete´s subjective view on the use of hormonal contraceptives: a questionnaire | Isabell Thal | Isabell Thal, Emilija Stojanovic, Florian Hanakam |
Time | Title | Speaker | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
13:45-14:00 | A dual-pathway study of the stress-recovery cycle on athletes' motor skill transfer ability | Dr. Yinuo Mu | Dr. Yinuo Mu, Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, Guangxue Zhang, Sangsang Jiang, Mingyan Yu, Xiangping Sui |
14:00-14:15 | Yoga: A holistic approach to enhancing brain function and mental well-being | Soujanya Nandi, Dr. Surajit Nandi, Dr. Sudarsan Biswas | Soujanya Nandi, Dr. Surajit Nandi, Dr. Sudarsan Biswas |
14:15-14:30 | Joking to victory: Exploring the effects of humor styles on anxiety and sports performance | Dr. Min Pan | Dr. Min Pan |
14:30-14:45 | On the bidirectional effect of pressure and competitive performance | Dr. Xiaohan Jing | Xiaohan Jing |
Time | Title | Speaker | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
13:45-14:00 | The behavior of student-athletes at the University of Zagreb towards sustainable development | Dr. Sanja Ćurković | Ivan Kaselj |
14:00-14:15 | Communication meets sustainability: The Podcast as a tool for responsible sports management at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games | Prof. Dr. Andreas Hebbel-Seeger | Prof. Dr. Andreas Hebbel-Seeger |
14:15-14:30 | Mixed reality technology: Ushering in a new era of unbounded and sustainable campus sports ecology | Weilin Tang | Weilin Tang, Sitong Yang, Yawen Geng |
14:30-14:45 | Exploring Olympic Legacy through recent research: Insights from studies (2017 - 2024) | Mohammad Alkayal | Mohammad Alkayal, Prof. Holger Preuss |
15:15-16:30 CEST - Parallel Session 2
Time | Title | Speaker | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
15:15-15:30 | Gender and disability disparities in sports policy: A Comparative study of China and Japan’s support for disabled women | Jia Cheng | Jia Cheng, Prof. Hong Fan |
15:30-15:45 | Application of machine learning techniques to predict free throw performance in high-pressure for basketball players | Chuxuan Li | Chuxuan Li, Prof. Jing Shen, Prof. Yuan Zhang |
15:45-16:00 | Cheating in League of Legends – Pressure on players and their perception towards alleged performance-enhancing substances | Rolf Hufft | Rolf Hufft, PD. Dr. Mathias Schubert |
16:00-16:15 | Improving the support to high-level student-athletes with study-related international mobility | Dorothée Brac de la Perrière | Dorothée Brac de la Perrière, Florian Agneray, Swantje Scharenberg, Carlos Hernando Domingo, Pilar Marín Gil, Per Thorén, Johan Bankel, Sami Kalaja, Minna Rasinaho, Bernd Frick |
Time | Title | Speaker | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
15:15-15:30 | Developing a personal branding model of female football referees | Samin Joudairi | Sonia Jafari, Mohhamad Rasoul Khodadadi, Fatemeh Abdavi, Samin Jodeiri |
15:30-15:45 | Sustaining the unsung: Work-life balance and resilience of sports team interpreters in high-performance contexts | Dr. Yupian Qiao | Dr. Yupian Qiao |
15:45-16:00 | Women in sports coaching in Germany: findings from the QualiFT project | Lisa Kalina | Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (Prof. Dr. Astrid Schubring) |
16:00-16:15 | Virtual reality-based mental resilience training for injured athletes | Rongzhi Chen | University of Porto – Faculty of Sport (Rongzhi Chen) |
Time | Title | Speaker | Further Information |
|---|---|---|---|
15:15-16:30 | Workshop I: Safe Sport | Kim Bui | Please find further information here. |
17:00-18:15 CEST - Panel Discussion „Meet the Stars”
The panel discussion "Meet the Stars" brings together prominent figures from sport, science, and society to share personal experiences with mental health in elite sport. In an open dialogue with the audience, the focus lies on individual stories—dealing with pressure, setbacks, fear of failure, and personal recovery strategies.
Unlike the panel discussion "Meet the Experts", this session highlights lived experiences and emotional insights, aiming to reduce stigma and foster open conversations. Through their public presence and authentic voices, the panelists help raise awareness and inspire new perspectives on mental health in high-performance environments.
