International collaborations

One of the long-term objectives of Mistra Sport & Outdoors was to produce research at the international forefront to find and implement sustainable solutions in practice. Some of our international collaboration is listed below:

Member of ENOS - The European Network of Outdoor Sports

The European Network of Outdoor Sports, or ENOS, is a collaborative initiative established in 2013 by representatives from various sectors and organizations. These include regional and national government bodies, municipalities, universities, civil society organizations, associations, project and non-profit entities. ENOS was created with the primary aim of representing outdoor sports at the European Union level and highlighting the social, environmental, educational, and economic values that outdoor sports bring to individuals and communities.

One of ENOS's core objectives is to facilitate knowledge exchange across borders, with a strong emphasis on responsible and sustainable development that takes into account natural habitats and ecosystems. ENOS is distinctive for its diverse membership, bringing together stakeholders ranging from local to European or umbrella organizations, and it advocates for both operational and strategic interests. This diversity enables ENOS to engage in activities that promote both sports and the cross-sectoral nature of active outdoor lifestyles.

In 2021, Mistra Sport & Outdoors became a member of ENOS, further enriching the network's collaborative efforts to promote and advance outdoor sports across Europe. Through its inclusive and holistic approach, ENOS continues to advocate for the benefits of outdoor sports and their positive impact on individuals and society as a whole.

MMV – The International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas

Several researchers in Mistra Sport & Outdoors have strong links to the International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas (MMV). The MMV conference provides a forum for presentations and other exchanges of ideas and experiences related to the monitoring and management of visitors in recreation and protected areas. The emphasis is on policies, problems, practices and innovative solutions, and will therefore be of equal relevance to managers and researchers. This bi-annual conference welcomes researchers, public sector and industry managers, consultants, planners and members of NGO’s dealing with visitor management in recreational and protected areas.

Part of EASM

Several researchers from Mistra Sport & Outdoors are part of the European Association for Sport Management (EASM). At their conference in Belfast in September 2023, research drawing on Mistra Sport & Outdoors was presented and discussed.

Members of the OECD Expert Group on Global Events Impact

The International Olympic Committee and the OECD have taken an initiative to develop a joint model for measuring the impact of international events. To this end, an expert group with authorities, organizers and academics has been put together, of which the two Swedish representatives were researchers in Mistra Sport & Outdoors.

Global events such as the Olympic Games, trade fairs and world championships have long been seen as opportunities to stimulate growth and development. Organizers are increasingly trying to ensure that such events become catalysts for local development, infrastructure investment, increased tourism and trade, create jobs and promote community development.

To meet these expectations, events need to be designed and implemented to create long-term positive effects, for example on the climate. Robert Petterson and Erik Lundberg, researchers in Mistra Sport & Outdoors, were involved in creating a global guide on measuring the impact of global events on local development and an Global Events Toolkit that turns the OECD recommendations into practice.

Vimas – Project that brings together doctoral students around digital data

"Visitor monitoring and management in protected and recreational areas: new challenges, novel solutions for the Anthropocene (Vimas)" is a project financed by the EU's Horizon program (Marie-Curie) 2023–2027. The project includes ten PhD students in six countries, two of whom were supervised at Mittuniversitetet and linked to Mistra Sport & Outdoors. The doctoral students develop methods for better collaboration and indicators of experience values based on digital data shared by visitors. This can, for example, involve following, measuring and reviewing visitor pressure, use and experiences of natural areas. The project will also study how new digital technology can contribute to a more inclusive and fair outdoor life.

Read more about the Vimas project

COASTREC – project on sustainable outdoor life in the coastal areas

COASTREC is a four-year project funded by the Research Council of Norway 2023-2027 that focuses on sustainable outdoor life in coastal areas. The project studies the role that voluntary organizations have in creating more sustainable solutions linked to the management of trails and outdoor areas. Mistra Sport & Outdoors participated in the project's reference group and contributed to a Swedish case study.

TRAKR – Network focusing on transformative knowledge regions

Resarchers in Mistra Sport & Outdoors were part of the "Regional Studies Association Research Network on Transformative Knowledge Regions (TRAKR)". The network explores the conceptual, methodological, empirical, and policy dimensions of the recent shift from knowledge-intensive to “transformative knowledge regions”. By doing so, it seeks to renew the understanding of knowledge as an asset in regional development in light of on-going sustainability transitions. The network brings together scholars of the geography of knowledge and sustainability transitions, as well as established and early career researchers.