COMPETENCE REPORT

Student Teacher
Name: Luca van der Hoeven Date: 20 January 2018
Education: Sports, Health and Management Name mentor: Ans Kremer
Function: Student / HMR council Year: 3 Pal Programme

Competence 1: Professional Sport Identity

The sports professional has a professional identity in which he/she links sports ownership to
research and creative ability and thus permanently develops the own and collective
knowledge of the professional group and domain. He or she knows possibilities in dynamic
contexts looking for dialogue and co-creation at different levels to create value.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

During the first and second period of the third year Sport Studies, I did an internship at
Hofstad Sport Business & Events. For the Business Planning course, I was expected to
conduct research at the internship organisation into the policy and the characteristics of
the organization. This research translates itself into an analysis from which a strategy with
a practical implementation has been developed.

At least once a week the student has been present at the internship location in The Hague.
It must be said that I carried out the assignment for a client of Hofstad Business & Events,
namely the organization Pro Rugby World. This organization now exits for a year and is still
a concept in development. Therefore, my task was to be present at meetings for
observation and to ask questions to clarify the concept. In addition, I carried out desk
research and market research and mapped various characteristics of the organization that
were not fixed yet.

Within the internship period, I carried out various activities. First of all, I conducted both
field and desk research and processed the found information using theoretical models. An
overview of these model can be found in the report (page.. Research Design). These models
helped me to analyse both the internal and external environment of the organization and
provided me with the input for the final business planning advice. During this entire
process, I was supervised by Nynke Lely-Straatsma from the organization and Sander
Klaassen supported me from the Hanze University of Applied Science.

The result consist of two professional products; a strategic business advice for the
organization and a presentation for the organization Pro Rugby World. This result has been
 assessed by both the internship supervisor and the internship teacher. Hopefully the
internship organization will implement this strategic business plan as soon as possible.

This assignment shows that, as a sport professional, I have further developed my

professional identity and linked my sport ownership to research and used my creative
ability to design both the report and the presentation. In the first year of my study I
conducted a preventive organization diagnose at the rugby club of Groningen. Now I
perform the same kind of research on a larger scale and therefore a more complex and
dynamic context. As a result, I have contributed to the further development of the
collective knowledge in this professional environment. In have tried to create as much
value as possible for the internship organization in a short period of time by collecting
useful information and processing it in a well-organized analysis from which appropriate
advice has been formulated. My gal was to contribute from my own passion for rugby to
clarify the concept of Pro Rugby World and help them making an inspiring pitch/ I have
tried to get as many people as possible enthusiastic about this concept and the sport itself.
In this I succeeded quite successful. However, there were also aspects that I would tackle
differently in the future. I would like to focus more on writing the report and carrying out
the research. Keeping up with the activity journal and the scheduling of necessary hours
can be an important point of improvement.

Competence 2: Acts methodically and evidence informed

The sports professional acts methodically. He/she supports the question articulation for
practical issues and, based on careful consideration of different sources, formulates the best
possible answer in collaboration with stakeholders. The sports professional also contributes
to the knowledge development to the knowledge development of the professional group.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

At the start of my internship at Hofstad Sport Business & Events, I was offered the
opportunity to go to Dublin where the headquarters of World Rugby is located to be
present at the pitch which Pro Rugby World had prepared. My contribution was to observe
and provide the organization with the right background information. Nynke Lely-Straatsma,
Gabriel Brauer and Ger Hofstee were present from Pro Rugby World. We had an
appointment with Morgan Buckley (General Manager Development) and David Carrigy
(Head of Development & International Relationships).
My exact task was to research the current developments within World Rugby beforehand,
and above all gain insight into their future investments. In addition, I focused on the mission
/vision and core values of World Rugby to make a connection with Pro Rugby World. These
were easy to find as both organizations originated from a great passion for the sport rugby.
 The activities that I carried out can be subordinated in three phases. Prior to the pitch, I
first had contact with Nynke by telephone, to make clear what exactly was expected of me.
Then I carried out desk research in response to her request. During the pitch, I made notes
of World Rugby’s reaction to the concept of Pro Rugby World. And finally this was discussed
in a focus group back in the Netherlands.

The result was not entirely satisfying. The reaction of World Rugby was not immediately
enthusiastic. Therefore, it was difficult to make a follow-up appointment. Personally, I felt
like we had chosen the wrong person to give the pitch. Instead of looking for the connection
that I had written down in the report and making the organization enthusiastic about a new
development in rugby, the presentation was mainly focussed on the business model of Pro
Rugby World as an organization. With this we immediately created resistance.

This pitch taught me how complex it is to find a joint answer for all stakeholders. In this
case, the main stakeholder was World Rugby. By reading various sources including the
World Rugby annual report, I looked for shared interests for both organizations. I was
reasonably successful in this. However, little was done with my input and I will try to share
my vision in the future.

Competence 3: Works together in teams and networks

The sports professional enters relationships, partnerships and/or coalitions and explores the
boundaries of his/her own profession to pursue common goals efficiently and thereby create
value. The sports professional profiles and legitimizes himself/herself within professional
networks.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

At the moment I am part of different networks. I have arranged these networks according
to the time investment:

1. Lijst Student Erkend (Student party within the Hanze University of Applied Science)
2. Participation Council Hanze Hogeschool
3. Pal Program / Sports, Health and Management
4. North Sea Beach & Pro Rugby World (internship)
5. Rugby Club Groningen
For the sake of clarity, I choose the network in which I am most active. Within Lijst Student
Erkend (STERK), I am the vice-chairman. Last year I participated in the elections at the Hanze
University and I was number 2 on the candidates list of 50 students. The Hanze University
has two student parties; the Hanze Studentenbelangen Vereniging and STERK. In total we
managed to secure 4 out of 9 seats within the Participation Council.
 Within the group, as a vice- chairman, I have a number of tasks that I occupy myself with
weekly. It is my job to replace our chairman when she is not able to attend and support her
wherever possible. As a group we present 27.000 student and it is important that we have
contact with students form all the different courses our university offers.

At the beginning of the study year 2017-2018, many activities were planned in regard to
meet the boards of studies within the university. It was especially important that we were
present as a whole group and to get into conversations with these boards to understand
what is happening on different levels. There were several training weekends with boards
of universities from all over the Netherlands.

All these activities resulted in the network and contacts which we have as a student party
with all these study and university boards. It is important that we remain in discussion
about all that happens within the university and that when we experience problems, we
look for jointly for the right solution.

I have been a member of the participation board now for six months and so far it has greatly
expanded my professional network. Within the party, I am mainly concerned with looking
for connections between all the students who have a different point of view. I have heard
from various party member that I this became one of my best qualities. Where I first would
blur out my own opinion, I now listen first and look for the connecting factors instead of
the conflicting ones.

Competence 4: Communicates optimally

In both the Dutch and English language, the sport professional formulates his/her own vision,
plans and decisions verbally and in writing and uses various (digital) communication tools.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

The West Ham United week was part of the Strategy Game course. All SGM students were
divided into small groups with international students from Belgium, Germany, Denmark
and England. During the West Ham United week, each team participated in a simulation
game in which several assignments were set out each day and had to be handed in at
different times.

At the start of the west Ham United week we had to make a division of tasks as a team. I
got the role to design the products. Soon we found out that everyone also fulfilled tasks
outside his or her function, depending on the assignment we received. In addition to being
a designer, I was also responsible for handing in all the products and the contact person for
our group. I got this role in a natural way as the week took place at our university.
 As I was responsible for handing in all the documents, it was especially important that I
checked all documents beforehand. In doing so, together with the student from England I
looked at correct language use and with the student from Belgium I made every design in
the same style. We had to hand in the assignments in the Wikispaces digital platform. No
one of our group worked before with this platform, therefore it was my job to check if all
documents were uploaded correctly. In addition, I tried to divide the assignments in the
best way so that everyone contributed individually to the group. I also found it important
to take in account the individual talent of each student and to make the most of it. We
communicated as a group via a Facebook chat group.

Our collaboration resulted in an interesting learning experience in which we handed in a

lot of assignments in a very short time. At the beginning of the week we were even on the
third place of all the +/- 30 student groups. The final mark of the week was a 7 out of 10
points.

This week was a challenge in terms of expressing your own vision, plans and decisions in
both Dutch and English as it was mainly about understanding the vision of the international
students before you could make any decision or plan at all. In some ways, I would have
wanted to make more use of their input and knowledge in the field of sports, health and
management. However, I think that we as a group have done well considering the time
frame. In the future I would like to spend more time with the internationals to show them
around in Groningen for example. Other groups had done so and I think it is nice if you can
contribute to the experience that the students get of another city.

Competence 5: Acts adequately in an international and intercultural

environment
The sports professional shows sensitivity and involvement on the basis of knowledge of
political, socio-cultural and economic developments and interdependence of countries of
countries and regions. She/he acts in practise from understanding, respect and empathy for
diversity and can convert this into added value.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

At the start of the third year, the course Sport & Health Policy was introduced in which the
various policy forms in the field of sport and health were looked at on a macro, meso and
micro level. In doing so, policy was looked at from a national and international perspective
and during the lectures the contemporary challenges and dilemmas in this field were
discussed. Then it was up to the students to formulate political and social goals. A case or
policy dilemma was offered with regard to sports and / or health. Here each student had
 to formulate the current or expected problem individually and give the right directions for
change based on different resources. Describing the role of the sports professional was part
of this report.

The case where I wrote my report about was based on the Blue Zones, geographical areas
in the world where the locals have the longest life expectancy. In order to map this
phenomenon, I used two theoretical models to analyse the characteristics of these blue
zones. These characteristics then had to be processed in a policy for the municipality of
Groningen. One of the most important characteristics of the Blue Zones is the close
community which serves as a social safety net. Old generations care for the younger and
vice versa. This characteristic was connected with the acute problem of a shortage of
houses/rooms among (international) students. By writing a policy that makes it possible for
these students to live with the elderly at a low rent. The students would have to spend part
of their time with their neighbours during the week. From the point of view of a sport
professional, then preferably spending time together in an active way. This would also be
a good solution considering the economic situation of the health care sector as it is being
decentralized. This means that the municipalities become responsible for the care of their
own region, which entails a lot of costs and more help from the private sector. By using
students in elderly homes, this could reduce the workload of the staff.

This concept resulted in a report in which the current problem was formulated together
with the possible solutions in the area of policy. The best concepts could be presented at
the HANNN (Healthy Aging Network North Netherlands). Unfortunately, my report was
rejected because of plagiarism. For each report, the maximum percentage of plagiarism is
25%. This report had a percentage which was just above the allowed percentage.
Therefore, I had to work out another case. Still, the concept was good.

Off course I was disappointed with the end result. I know that a large part of the plagiarism
was due to the resources and I should have formulated them proper when I described the
best practises. I should have written them in my own words or quoted parts of the text. At
the beginning I immediately threw myself into this subject with great enthusiasm and
thought I had a good solution for the case in which I had incorporated the concept of the
Blue Zones. Now I see that I may have ended up in a tunnel vision and therefore did not
look at other alternatives properly. I would do this differently next time as I might even
come up with a better idea.

Competence 6: Shows responsible and committed citizenship

The sports professional is aware of the ethical aspects of the profession and identifies socially
and morally topical themes and contributes situatively, in a critical and responsible manner,
to solutions.

Description + required level

What did your development and learning process look like regarding competence?
To what extent do you manage this competence? (STARR must be traceable)
What shows that you have achieved this competence?

The reason for my participation in the elections of the Participation Council was that I
wanted to contribute in an active way to improving the position of the international
students within the Hanze University of Applied Science. Since I have followed my own
study in English, I know that these is still a lot to improve in this area and with the current
strategy of the Hanze University to attract more international students, I find it becoming
even more important that the programs offered by the university actually run well.

Last year I made myself eligible and was the number 2 on the candidate’s list of Lijst Student
Erkend (STERK). I had to formulate my vision and wrote a piece for the election program.
My main point of view was ‘There is still a lot to improve in the field of internationalization’.
In addition to writing a part of the election program, it was my responsibility to win as many
votes as possible in the election week and take part in the debate against the HSV. After
the elections, we had won 4 seats with STERK. Every Monday, there is a meeting with the
entire council and with each committee. There are three committees within the council, of
which I am a member of the Human Resource Management and Marketing committee.

For the elections, STERK has a training program in which the candidates take part in order
to be well prepared for the election week. This includes debate training for example. After
the elections, there are all kinds of weekend where you can take part to get better prepared
for a year in the council and to speed up the process to get to know each other. In addition
of the Monday which is reserved for the central council and committees, during the week
meetings take place with different groups. At the moment I am in the working group of the
GSB (Groningen Studentenvakbond). Here we actively seek a solution for the
accommodation of the upcoming international students.

After half a year in the participation council, no concrete results have been achieved. After
a few months a research committee has been set up and this committee is now working on
formulating the problems around internationalization within the Hanze. Together with the
teachers in the council, we are now trying to form a coalition in order to come up with a
solution for the English level difference of both teachers and students. We hope to come
up with a proposal for the Executive Board as soon as possible.

It is not easy to come up with a suitable solution that satisfies all parties. What makes it
even more complex is that most problems are on a larg scale and therefore it takes time to
map the problem with evidence. I’ve learned that it takes time to make change happen and
I have to accept that I can not do it all in one year. However, I am happy with the
cooperation with the teachers and GSB. In a long process it gives energy to work together
with ambitious students who are looking for a solution in a critical way.