HOPE – Hospital schools’ guidelines On Physical Education. An International, Interdisciplinary and Intersectoral Endeavour is a European project supported by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme.
Young people in hospital schools frequently experience limited access to physical education (PE), despite its crucial developmental benefits. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HOPE project is creating international guidelines to improve PE in hospital schools. The project includes a multilingual training programme for PE teachers, boosted by international partners (e.g. International Judo Federation). Through expert mentorship, pilot interventions and a strong emphasis on inclusion and diversity, HOPE ensures that its guidelines are relevant across a variety of cultural and institutional contexts, and that they support children and adolescents even after hospitalisation. HOPE’s long-term vision is to make PE truly accessible, inclusive and positive for all young people, regardless of health condition, educational setting or background.
CONSORTIUM
Coordinator
University of Rome “Foro Italico”
The University of Rome “Foro Italico” (UniRoma4) is a specialized Italian public university dedicated exclusively to sports, movement, and health sciences. Located in the historic Foro Italico complex, it offers specialized undergraduate to PhD programs, focusing on coaching, management, and sport science. It is recognized as a small, vocational, student-friendly institution.
Project members
MSCA Global Postdoctoral Fellow
Simone Ciaccioni – – PhD in Sport Sciences & TFA in Special Education, he is presently Researcher at the University of Rome “Foro Italico”. Previously, I’ve been Erasmus grantee at Uni. Rennes 2 (FRA), De Brakken School (NLD), Uni. College of Dublin (IRL), visiting student at Uni. of Southern Queensland (AUS), PE teacher at “Agostino Gemelli” & “Umberto I” hospitals (ITA) and Researcher at Pegaso Telematic University, Italy. He conducts research in Education, Exercise and Health with a special interest in martial arts (e.g., judo 柔道).
Supervisor
Laura Capranica – full professor at the University of Rome “Foro Italico”, is President of the European “Student as Athlete” Network (EAS). She is a Fulbright scholar and Mobley International Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Indiana University. Capranica has held leadership roles in numerous European projects, including on dual careers and gender equity in sports. She is an expert evaluator for Italian academics and editor for scientific journals. With over 200 publications and 200 conference presentations, her research spans the determinants of sports performance and the impact of physical activity on health across the lifespan.
Administrative Staff
Paola Teti – is the responsible officer for the International Relations Officer at the University of Rome “Foro Italico”. She worked both in the public and private sectors and is expert in European projects.
Edmond Kola, PhD – works at the Office of Doctorate of Research. He is an expert in the internationalisation of higher education, with a particular focus on doctoral programmes, and in the assessment and recognition of foreign academic qualifications in accordance with national, European and international standards.
Outgoing phase partner
University of Bern – Switzerland
Founded in 1834, the University of Bern (UNIBE) is a public comprehensive university located in Switzerland’s capital, offering high-quality education and research across eight faculties. It is renowned for interdisciplinary focus, particularly in climate science, medicine, space research, and sustainability. It boasts approximately 17,000–18,000 students.
Project members
Supervisors
Mirko Schmidt – is full professor and head of Sport Pedagogy at the University of Bern. He holds a PhD in sport science, completed his habilitation in 2019, and received an SNSF Eccellenza Grant in 2020. His research focuses on interventions promoting cognitive performance, personality development, and school-based physical activity.
Valentin Benzing – is researcher at the University of Bern’s Institute of Sport Science. His research focuses on the link between physical activity and cognition, exploring how exercise improves mental health. He works with schoolchildren and clinical patients, including those with ADHD and cancer survivors.
1st Secondment partner
Università del Minho – Portogallo
The University of Minho (UMINHO) excels in research and innovation, holding a top position among Portuguese higher education institutions. It manages 780 projects with a budget of ~220.3 M€, and produces over 3,500 refereed papers annually. UMINHO ranks 3rd in Portugal for H2020 funding, with around 40 M€ across 97 projects, and 31 Horizon Europe projects securing 7.4 M€. Consistently in the top 401-500 globally in the Shanghai Ranking, UMINHO is recognized for its significant research impact, with 3 Highly Cited Researchers in 2023.
Project members
Supervisors
Pedro Rosário – is a full professor of Psychology at the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. His current research emphasis falls within self-regulated learning (SRL) and metacognition, and education challenges to prevent early school dropout. He has conducted several studies investigating how students learn and improve their SRL competencies.
is a Júnior Researcher at the School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. She is interested in the role played by motivation, agency, and self-regulation in the adoption and maintenance of health-related behaviours, namely eating, sleeping, and physical activity; and understanding how gamification can help engage individuals in behaviour change.
2nd Secondment partner
Università Federale di Pernambuco – Brasile
The Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) is a leading public institution in Brazil, renowned for its educational, research, and extension programs. Ranking 14th nationally and among the top 37 in Latin America, UFPE offers 103 undergraduate and 151 postgraduate courses. The university excels in CAPES evaluations and international projects, with 7,518 postgraduate students enrolled. UFPE leads in research with 501 registered groups, 13 INCTs, and the REDECLIMA consortium on climate change. Its Technology Pole supports start-ups and innovations, including 18 patents in health. UFPE plays a key role in the Pernambuco Innovation System (SPIn).
Project members
Supervisors
Luciana Pedrosa Leal – is Director of Stricto sensu Postgraduate Studies at UFPE and Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing. She holds degrees in Nursing and Nutrition, with a post-doc in Nursing. She led the UFPE Postgraduate Nursing Program (2018-2021) and contributed to the EUfunded Devotion Project on perinatal mental health. Her research focuses on social networks, education, and child health.
Cleide Maria Pontes – is full Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (Nursing Department) and CNPq Research Productivity Fellow. She holds degrees in Nursing, Health Services Administration, Community and Obstetric Nursing, and a PhD in Nutrition, with postdoctoral training in Nursing. She has led postgraduate programs, research groups, and residency initiatives. Her work focuses on women’s health, family health, social support, and health education.
Non-Academic Placement Partner
Judo Savez Primorsko-Goranske Županije (Judo Savez) – Croazia
The Judo Association of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, where Dr Bradic is the president and some of the IJF projects are being already implemented, also covers the entire region and is active in cooperation with the Croatian Judo Federation. Regarding the cooperation and research at the City of Rijeka, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the following strategic facilities, infrastructures and equipment will be available for the HOPE project and Dr Ciaccioni’s skills development: -State institutions, National Institute for Public Health, Center for upbringing and education (specialized in working with children with developmental disabilities), Autism Center, Faculty of Health Studies, The city of Rijeka with its administration, Rijeka Sports Association, Community of sports associations, Clubs/sports associations, Croatian Olympic Committee, Croatian Judo Federation, Judo club Rijeka, and Association for disabled sports.
Project members
Supervisor
Slaviša Bradić – is an international judo expert, graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Having a solid experience in judo as a competitor, coach and scientist, Dr Bradić has published several books and scientific papers. He has participated and coordinated several sport-related projects. He directs the Rijeka Sports Federation, which is the leading sports organization in Croatia for EU projects, and actively works and creates education for coaches and sports workers in the city of Rijeka. He also works at the IJF Academy Foundation as an instructor.
HOPE is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor REA can be held responsible for them.