UCT and Italy strengthen ties through sport, health and innovation The growing role of sport as a catalyst for health, innovation, education and international collaboration took centre stage at the second Italy–UCT–HPALS Symposium, recently hosted by the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Health throu…
UCT and Italy strengthen ties through sport, health and innovation
The growing role of sport as a catalyst for health, innovation, education and international collaboration took centre stage at the second Italy–UCT–HPALS Symposium, recently hosted by the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS) Research Centre. Themed "Beyond Performance: Innovation, Wellness and Sustainable Impact Through Sport", the symposium brought together academics, students, industry leaders, policymakers and international partners from South Africa and Italy to consider how sport and exercise science can contribute to improving human performance, health and societal well-being.
The partnership began in 2024, following the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' international focus on sport. HPALS became the first – and, to date, only known – university partner to translate this initiative into a dedicated international symposium. This year's symposium welcomed an international delegation from the University of Cagliari in Sardinia and eight undergraduate and postgraduate Erasmus+ students undertaking academic exchanges at UCT. The industry was also represented by Technogym South Africa and OT Bioelettronica, while the Embassy of Italy participated through its diplomatic and scientific representatives.
"These included presentations by Dr Sharief Hendricks (From Innovation to Impact: Research, Policy and Athlete Welfare in International Team Sports) and by Associate Professor Yumna Albertus on Innovation in Monitoring Movement. "Its impact extends from high performance and injury prevention through to inclusive mobility and food security, translating research into policy, into products and into our communities."
For HPALS, the symposium reflects an approach to sport and exercise science that looks well beyond the traditional boundaries of athletic performance. It brings together sport, health, technology, education and sustainability, while creating opportunities for researchers and students to work across disciplines and borders. In her welcome address, HPALS director Associate Professor Albertus, described the centre as "a global powerhouse that's based on African questions" which "begins at the nucleus of the cell, and it extends all the way to communities, environments and lived experiences of our people".
UCT and Italy strengthen ties through sport, health and innovation
The centre climbed from 49th place when it was established in 2018 to 10th in the world in the current ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments; and it has global influence through advisory roles with organisations such as the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee. "Its impact extends from high performance and injury prevention through to inclusive mobility and food security, translating research into policy, into products and into our communities."
Associate Professor Myosotis Massidda, whose work at the University of Cagliari spans sport and exercise science, public health and precision exercise, described the exchange as much more than an academic visit. "It has been a unique opportunity for scientific exchange, collaboration and personal growth," she said.
Taking learning beyond the classroom Associate Professor Massidda's keynote address, "Beyond Performance: From Active Lifestyle to Precision Exercise and Health", provided the intellectual anchor for the symposium, tracing the evolution of sport and exercise science from active lifestyles and sport tourism to personalised exercise medicine. She drew on Sardinia as an example of how environment, culture, physical activity and lifestyle can intersect to influence health and well-being. "Sardinia represents a natural environment in which we can study the relationship between physical activity, lifestyle, environment and health."
The University of Cagliari has developed this philosophy through three interconnected areas: education, scientific exchange and precision exercise medicine. The first of these is an international programme in active sport tourism, which uses Sardinia as a living learning environment. Students from universities across Europe participate in virtual and physical mobility programmes that combine scientific education with practical experiences such as climbing, trekking, orienteering, sailing and kayaking.
But, as Massidda explained, the objective is not simply to expose students to outdoor activities. "Learning does not have to remain inside the classroom," she said. Each activity becomes an opportunity to explore issues such as risk management, decision-making, teamwork, environmental sustainability, and professional practice. The programme reflects a broader philosophy in which territory, science, experience and internationalisation combine to create active learning.
Massidda suggested that UCT could potentially become a future partner in the programme, further extending the academic relationship between Cape Town and Cagliari.
Growing a global research community The second strand of Cagliari's work is scientific exchange. Massidda highlighted the University of Cagliari's international sport science conference, which has developed into a growing global research community.
UCT and Italy strengthen ties through sport, health and innovation
Its latest edition attracted more than 200 participants from 13 countries and five continents, with approximately 60 scientific contributions. UCT researchers Professor Malcolm Collins and Professor Alison September have already contributed to this scientific network, particularly in exercise genomics and musculoskeletal research. For Massidda, these existing connections demonstrate that the relationship between South Africa and Sardinia is already moving beyond an institutional visit towards a genuine scientific partnership. "Sardinia and South Africa are geographically very far apart, but scientifically we have many reasons to be close," she said. Those shared interests include exercise genomics, precision exercise, chronic disease and the use of technology and biological data to develop better approaches to exercise prescription. "The future of exercise is not one programme for all. The future is the right exercise for the right person at the right time." The third strand focused on one of the most promising areas of contemporary exercise science: precision exercise medicine. Her research project, Fibrogenic, explores how exercise can be personalised for people living with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition in which individuals can respond very differently to the same exercise stimulus. "Exercise is one of the most powerful medicines we have available to us," Massidda said. "But like any powerful medicine, the key question becomes: What is the right dose for the right person at the right time?" Fibrogenic seeks to answer that question by combining personalised training, physiological monitoring, clinical assessment, digital health and biological information. That variation is central to the project. Rather than simply asking whether an exercise intervention works, the researchers are asking who responds, who progresses and why. "The future of exercise is not one programme for all," Massidda said. "The future is the right exercise for the right person at the right time." The symposium demonstrated why the Italy–UCT relationship has significance beyond a single annual event. Through the partnership, the strengths of Italian universities, industry and government are being connected with UCT's research capabilities, creating opportunities for collaborative research, Erasmus+ student mobility, technology partnerships and broader industry engagement.
