FROM SPORT TO EMPLOYABILITY: DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS OF A SPORT FOR EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAM.

This thesis explores the use of sport as a tool to enhance employability, focusing on the design and evaluation of a Sport for Employability (SfE) program targeted at students in vocational education and training (VET) pathways. The study is divided into four key phases: • Phase One: This phase involved an in-depth analysis of the construct of employability, specifically targeting VET students. A theoretical model was developed to account for how employability is represented among this demographic. • Phase Two: Building on the theoretical model from Phase One, two specialized scales, DEVET-s and SPEVET-s, were developed. These scales assess the significance of various employability dimensions and students' self-perceived employability. An initial psychometric study was conducted to examine these scales, identifying their sub-dimensions. • Phase Three: A participatory approach was employed to design a Sport for Employability program for VET students at a vocational school in Lombardy. The program was co-designed with the involvement of students, the course coordinator, tutors, and teachers. • Phase Four: The Sport for Employability program was then implemented, monitored, and evaluated within an existing educational framework. A participatory process combined qualitative and quantitative tools, including the custom scales developed in Phase Two. Results indicate that, content-wise, the program effectively developed several employability sub-dimensions. Moreover, from a procedural perspective, the participatory approach enhanced contextual engagement and adaptability to the specific educational environment.