The first stage of the research work has started with the involvement of partners, educational and IT experts, psychologists, and sport experts in more steps:
• as a kind of preparatory step, clarifying the definitions and creating a glossary for the project,
• developing the research/data collection instruments of the match-making tool,
• desk research in the professional skills development, in the sports sector, employment and entrepreneurship fields’ literature,
• a number of qualitative interviews of businesspersons/career consultants to develop an understanding of the most friendly-to-veteran athletes sectors and the key skills needed to succeed therein,
• a number of qualitative interviews of athletes to develop an understanding of the post-career prospects and needs of veteran athletes and, most importantly, the soft and hard skills they have acquired in the sports sector during their careers that can be transferred to different economic sectors,
• development of guidelines for the organization of focus groups with veteran athletes and businesspersons/entrepreneurs who will then decide how to “learn each other’s language” via further meetings and/or short visits to the workplace of the latter.
First stage of the research work
