Polytechnic University of Leiria Receives Distinction from the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth

The Polytechnic University of Leiria has been awarded the Ethics Flag, granted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) through the National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED), in recognition of its commitment to promoting ethical values through sport. The award was presented to the Department of Sport, Exercise, and Health within the School of Education and Social Sciences (ESECS) for its efforts in promoting good sports practices.

By receiving this distinction, the Polytechnic University of Leiria joins a community of institutions committed to ethics in sport and recognized for their work in this field.

“This certification reinforces our commitment to promoting ethical and inclusive practices at the Polytechnic University of Leiria, not only in general but specifically through sport. We aim to foster high-quality sports activities grounded in ethics, especially at the developmental level. Our goal is to educate students and citizens with strong ethical values, which they will carry into their personal and professional lives. We are truly proud of this recognition,” says Carlos Rabadão, President of the Polytechnic University of Leiria.

Among the projects that contributed to this certification are “From Training to Competition”, developed in partnership with IPDJ/PNED to ensure a balanced approach between education and competition, and “Sport for All”, aimed at people with disabilities—specifically users from CERCILEI and OASIS in Leiria. These participants benefit from weekly adapted sport sessions led by professors and students from the Master’s in Physical Exercise Prescription and Health Promotion and PhD candidates.

Other initiatives include the “Continuous Training Plan” led by the Sports and Well-Being bachelor which often focuses on sports ethics, and various annual events and seminars on adapted sports. The department’s ongoing work is further acknowledged by the annual Olympic Education Program Participation Certificate awarded by the Portuguese Olympic Committee to ESECS.

The Ethics Flag serves to certify and promote ethical values in sport, aiming to identify and recognize good practices, provide a flexible and useful framework for all sports stakeholders, and highlight replicable initiatives. It is open to all institutions seeking recognition and certification for their efforts in promoting ethics in sport, whether through specific projects, departments, or overall activities.

It is also worth noting that since 2021, the Polytechnic University of Leiria holds the Platinum Certification—the highest level—in the Healthy Campus program by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), becoming the first Portuguese Polytechnic Institution to do so.

This certification highlights the importance of physical activity in promoting the physical and mental well-being of the academic community, through actions in areas such as Sport and Physical Activity, Mental and Social Health, Nutrition, Disease Prevention, Risk Behaviours, Environment, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility.

Since 2024, the Polytechnic University of Leiria has also held the status of Support Unit for High Performance in Higher Education (UAARESuperior), aimed at helping elite student-athletes balance academic and sports careers.

In 2023, it was also awarded the Student-Athlete Seal by the IPDJ.