Sustainable Employment Model For Sports Science Graduates

The purpose of this research was to design a sustainable employment model for sports science graduates in Iran. 

The research method was conducted using data-based theory and qualitative approach. The population of the experts was knowledgeable about the research topic. The sampling method was purposeful and theoretical. The data collection method was conducted as full study of previous researches and a deep and open interview. After 16 interviews, the data reached a theoretical saturation. The method used for reliability was the inter-issue agreement. The average agreement on the issue was reported to be 0.82.

The data results from the influence of several factors including causal factors (employment skills, curriculum, needs assessment, development of sports industry and motivational and supportive factors), contextual factors (policy and program planning, economic and financial factors, university relationship with society and industry, professional competence in sports), intervening factors (technological, cultural and social, political factors, reconstruction of sports science, communications and networking) strategies (job search and counseling, internship redesign, privatization and entrepreneurship in the sports industry, removal of legal barriers, responsibility of higher education, attention to new contexts, establishment of a specialized sports organization) and Consequences (individual, economic, cultural-social and sustainable human development).

The obtained model can be used as a basis for employment policymakers among Iran's sports.