CORE CURRICULUM SPORT & HEALTH CITY MANAGER. Knowledge, skills and competencies serving urban health through sport
Keywords:
urban health, sport, city manager, core curriculum, health governance, physical activity, urban planningAbstract
Background and aim of the work: Urban health challenges, including demographic ageing, non-communicable chronic diseases, sedentary lifestyles, and growing social inequalities, require innovative professional figures capable of integrating public health, urban planning, sport, and governance. No standardized educational framework currently exists for professionals operating at this intersection. This paper presents the Core Curriculum for the Sport & Health City Manager, an evidence-based educational model designed to define knowledge, competencies, and skills for this emerging professional profile.
Research Design and Methods: the Core Curriculum was developed through a multidisciplinary, participatory, and interinstitutional process coordinated by the Health City Institute, involving Italian universities, scientific societies, public institutions, and sports organizations. Competencies were defined according to the European Qualification Framework (EQF) Level 7 standards, integrating medical, epidemiological, urban planning, sociological, and managerial expertise through structured expert consultation and evidence synthesis.
Results: the resulting curriculum comprises 11 training modules covering urban health policies, health literacy, active mobility, urban planning, chronic disease prevention, social inclusion, and data governance, delivered over 100 hours with a mixed methodology (40% theoretical, 30% laboratory/simulation, 20% project work, 10% internship). The professional profile is defined by six core competencies oriented toward intersectoral governance, equity, and evidence-based decision-making.
Conclusions: the Core Curriculum provides a replicable national standard for training Sport & Health City Managers, positioning this figure as a strategic facilitator of urban health governance. Implementation across Italian and European cities may contribute to more integrated, equitable, and health-promoting urban policies through sport.
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