Damir Sekulic, PhD: Original Scientific Product to be Developed
We talked with Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split, Damir Sekulic, PhD at the 16. The scientific conference of the CSA Academy in Dubrovnik. He especilally emphasized cooperation with professors from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Niksic at the University of Montenegro, which resulted in the most cited papers in the world from the filed of water polo and for that reason, it insist on the original scientific product. At the beginning, we aksed him for the field of his occupation in sport sciences, and he said those are diagnostics, specific sport texts and doping research in sport.
I am interested in many atreas of the science, one is related to classical sport topics, development and application of sport specific examinations, in terms of conditional capacities diagnostics, and I conduct a grave project finaced by Croation foundation for science. The second focus of my interests is doping research in sport, primarily from a social, not bio-medical aspect, hence, doping issue as the socially undesirable behaviour. In that regard, I conduct several PhD papers on the topic of doping, I am currently mentor to our former student from the Faculty in Split who is at PhD studies at the University in Palermo, Italy, on the subject of fitness diagnostics, also, I am mentoring our student who is at PhD studies at the Kinesiological Faculty in Zagreb, says Professor Sekulic.
The Dean of the Split Kinesiology Faculty was an active handball player, and after the studies he was engaged in fitness preparation for almost two decades, first in the water polo in 1996, he was with the water polo representation of Croatia at the Olympic Games in Atlanta when a silver medal was won, and since 1999 He was 15 years old for sailing. Sailing is probably the most profitable sport in Croatia. He has been preparing athletes for three Olympics, but, unfortunately, they were without medals, but now young sailors have all "charged", who are trophies, according to prof. Sekulic.
The Faculty of Kinesiology in Split is a core of teachers, researchers and students, it acts as a separate entity in relation to Zagreb, and there is noticeable a decentralization, which is undeveloped in other towns in our country in comparison with the capital city. A high culture of sports education education in Split and Dalmatia is noticeable.
Split itself is known as the town of sports. When taking into account the number of inhabitants in the city and its surroundings, compared to the number of Olympic medals, I think that it is curiosity that the town is among the top two or three places in the world. First of all, the importance of the Faculty of Kinesiology is recognized, I am aware of the existence of the University of Split and the fact that it is trying to present itself as an independent institution, scientifically productive, and in that is the reason why our faculty found its place. I would like it to develop more on the basis of cooperation within the university, meaning different faculties, different units. This is probably the reason why universities in the world are in most cases integrated, because in this way people of different professions and professions can exchange ideas of good and bad practice with each other, and then move faster. I think that in general, the problem in this area is the separation of faculties and the conviction that they are sufficient to themselves, I do not think it will be able to be in accordance with the world in this manner. So, integration first within the university, and then between the universities, is a step that must be made. You do not have to look at it as someone threatens you or similar, because without cooperation you will not make any significant step forward, says the Dean of Split.
When it comes to sports science tendencies, one should insist on openness and follow the trends that exist in the world, not to try to make a "revolution" because it will encounter a number of obstacles, but it is necessary to insist on the originality in the approach to the research thematic.
-Each country, region, area, should try to do what it can be good in. Therefore, it is nonsense to say to let’s buy that equipment as the others and do the same ...’We have to be aware that we have been already delayed for many years and we can hardly do it. Original scientific product should be developed and worked on. In particular, cooperation of Split, Dubrovnik and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Niksic (University of Montenegro), has resulted in the fact that researchers from the three institutions are the most cited in the world in the field of water polo. A paper on the topic from the filed of water polo made in cooperation with our three institutions has never been declined. This is a great result, because otherwise the rate of acceptance of papers is about 30%. You come to the topic with which you are the world's relevant, follow the methodology of research that has been set in the world, you have a world-class experts, where everyone can contribute, then success is guaranteed, it would not have happened if we go to do research on baseball, asserts Prof. Sekulic.
About the physical culture of young people, which has recently been reflected in trends such as fitness and bodybuilding, Professor Sekulic says that it is necessary to accept and not fight against it.
We are the ones who need to be adjusted to younger generations, offer them what they need, and what they want it. Since it is the time of technology and we will have issues related to non-movements. To insist on playing basketball and football as young generations used to do 20, 30 years ago is doomed, and it should not be considered at all. Hence, we have to find ways to enclose to their wishes and interests, and to continue to do what we know they need. It is regionally specific, in what manner we will do this, we can not say that someone on the continent will do it in the same way as somebody else can do on the coast. Perhaps, in that terms, the trends set by Slovenians, one of the most active nations in the world, should be followed, and they do so in non-standard ways. Walk through Ljubljana on Sundays and you will only meet tourists in the city, while the people of Ljubljana are on the mountains. We need to find what is feasible, should not insist on things that cannot be objectively done, concludes Damir Sekulic, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split.
Text: Dr Miomir Maros. PhD
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https://volimpodgoricu.me/2019/05/02/prof-dr-damir-sekulic-razvijajmo-originalan-naucni-proizvod/
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