Two representatives from UAARE visited the Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen to learn more about how it operates, the educational pathways it offers, and its partnerships with academic institutions
On Friday, March 20, the Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen hosted Fábio Ribeiro and João Fernandes, representatives of UAARE, a program run by Portugal’s Ministry of Education. Its main goal is to support elite student-athletes in balancing academic life with high-performance sport through a specialized dual career model.
UAARE visitors touring Thialf, the renowned indoor ice arena and one of the Netherlands’ leading speed skating venues.
As part of the visit, they toured the Cunabula building, home to the Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen. This brand-new facility combines 112 apartments with sports infrastructure, allowing athletes to live and train in the same place. The visitors also toured Thialf, a renowned indoor ice arena and one of the Netherlands’ leading speed skating venues. Since opening in 1986, Thialf has been the site of numerous world records.
The visit was led by Harm Jan Bouwmeester, a lecturer at Johan Cruyff College Groningen, and Melissa Wijfje, Cruyff Education Hub Coordinator and Partnerships. Melissa is also a lecturer at Johan Cruyff Academy Groningen and a strong example of a dual career athlete: alongside her career as a speed skater, she studied Sport Marketing at the Johan Cruyff Academy.
“Over the coming years, UAARE’s main priorities are to expand the range of study programs and diversify the subjects available to students. We also aim to involve more professionals from the sports industry, strengthening the link between students and the sector,” the visitors said.”
“This visit allowed us to better understand the legacy of Johan Cruyff, whose philosophy holds that those best suited to lead the world of sport are the athletes themselves—provided they have the right education.”
Harm Jan Bouwmeester and Melissa Wijfje meeting with UAARE visitors.
One of the key goals of the Cruyff Education Hub is to provide an open space where students, athletes, and industry professionals can connect, helping to foster the development of the broader sports ecosystem.
This visit further strengthens international collaboration and the exchange of best practices in the field of dual careers. Representatives from both the Cruyff Education Hub and UAARE shared insights on how to build flexible educational environments that support the academic and athletic development of young talent.
