In sports management, it is not only theory that matters, but also the ability to translate it into solutions that work in practice. This is precisely why a team of Kozminski University students has won the FIFA/CIES International University Network Award 2026 – a prestigious distinction granted within the international FIFA/CIES programme network. This marks the second consecutive year in which a project developed at Kozminski University has taken first place.
This achievement has a particular context for the University: for years, Kozminski University has been developing executive-level sports management competencies, including through the postgraduate programme Sports Management [Zarządzanie w sporcie], delivered within the FIFA/CIES framework and as part of a global network of partner universities. It is in such an environment – combining international standards, industry practice and project-based learning – that concepts with genuine implementation potential are developed.
What is FIFA/CIES and why does the award matter?
FIFA is one of the strongest brands in global sport, while CIES (the International Centre for Sport Studies) is an international hub for research and education in sport. Together, they run the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management and an international network of partner universities, within which team projects are assessed each year for innovation, analytical quality and practical implementation potential. In the 16th edition of the competition, CIES received 18 projects from universities within the international network.
The Award went to the project “Active Senior AI: A Case Study of the Town of Piastów with Adaptation Potential for Municipal and Local Government Units in Poland”, prepared by Katarzyna Ogórek, Marek Konieczny and Wojciech Nowak. The case study focuses on Piastów, while the proposed model -according to the authors – has the potential to be adapted by other local government units across Poland.
The winning project: “Active Senior AI”
The project aims to develop a model that strengthens seniors’ physical and social engagement while also supporting their digital inclusion. A key element is the use of AI to personalise activities and support participant engagement, as well as to structure feedback in a way that helps organise the programme effectively. Importantly, the concept is designed and communicated as non-medical: it does not offer diagnostic claims and does not replace medical consultation.
The international jury highlighted, among other strengths, the originality of the topic, its national relevance, the clarity of objectives, a rigorous methodological approach, the quality of research and analysis, and concrete, implementation-oriented recommendations.
A global competition, a global benchmark
This year’s edition had a strong international profile. The programme network includes well-recognised institutions such as Fundação Getulio Vargas, Cairo University and Nelson Mandela University Business School; in the official announcement, the jury also singled out a project from Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina.
“I am most pleased that final projects can combine rigorous methodology with recommendations that can truly be implemented in practice. It is a tremendous satisfaction and a source of pride,” emphasises Dr Paweł de Pourbaix, the academic supervisor of the winning project.
More information about the postgraduate programme Sports Management (FIFA/CIES) is available here
