Dual Career (DC) refers to the combination of an athletic career with education or work (Stambulova & Wylleman, 2015). Although EU guidelines on DC exist, research still highlights gaps in the support offered to university student-athletes (Guidotti et al., 2023). Career Assistance Programs (CAPs) provide structured services to help athletes manage their careers both inside and outside sport (Stambulova, 2010; Wylleman, Theeboom & Lavallee, 2004).
Evaluating DC programs can reveal key enablers of success as well as areas for improvement, thereby guiding stakeholders (Herold et al., 2022; Morris et al., 2021). While CAPs across countries often share common features, their delivery is highly contextual and culturally grounded, as practitioners work closely with athletes' everyday realities.
This study examines the implementation of University and Sport: Dual Career at Università Cattolica, launched in 2018 to support student-athletes in balancing academic and athletic demands. Since its inception, the program has reached 223 student-athletes, with 101 graduates. Services include individualized orientation and academic monitoring, reflecting the preventive and supportive dimensions of CAPs.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 student-athletes and 4 DC tutors to explore lived experiences within the program. Findings highlight the value of context-sensitive support, the relational dimension between tutors and athletes, and the need for ongoing evaluation. The study underscores that CAPs should be both culturally informed and evidence-based, tailored to athletes' daily lives and local contexts. Future challenges include extending services to other sport stakeholders and fostering transnational collaboration in program development and practitioner training.