Accountability Report

Assessment B

Jakob Kunert 6/1/18 Sports Studies

Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................... 2
1. Sports Professional identity .................................................................................................................... 3
2. Methodical and evidence-based approach............................................................................................. 4
3. Collaboration in teams and networks ..................................................................................................... 5
4. Communicates effectively....................................................................................................................... 6
5. Functioning effectively in an international and intercultural environment ........................................... 7
6. Acting responsibly and demonstrating engaged citizenship .................................................................. 8
Overview of supporting documents .............................................................................................................. 10

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Introduction

Academic Year … 2

Student Jakob Kunert

Student number 338700

Date May 2018

Bachelor of Sport Studies

Dear reader,

I am Jakob Kunert, I am writing this text to introduce myself. Let us start with a little background
information.
Having grown up in a small city in the north of Germany, I enjoyed a great upbringing and
education. Since the moment I could move I used the ability to climb, jump and run around. The
natural tendency to be actively developed into a real passion for sports of various nature. To me it
never mattered what sports I would play, it was about the spirit.
Soon enough I would start studying sports by specializing in sports sciences during the last three
years of my high-school education. It was then that I realized that sports and health are the fields I
belong to. I obtained fitness- trainer licenses and volunteered for a few months at a local Sports
club. Then I decided that I want to take my knowledge to the next level.
I chose to challenge myself by enrolling in English taught studies (Sports studies) in a foreign
country – the Netherlands. Since I have gone through a transformational process.
My mantra when I entered the studies was “becoming a better version of myself.” With that goal
in mind I devoted myself to the studies, and soon I understood the different dimensions of Sports,
Health and Management. I comprehended why sports had such an impact on my life and the
potential impact that it can have on millions of people.
Ambitious as I am I joined the Honors College to develop my professional identity. My objective for
my time in the honors college was to learn more about leadership and entrepreneurship. I believe
these are the topics that will help me in my future professional life.

Traits that define my way of working are accountability and an effective, yet polite way of
communicating. I also enjoy collaborating with people from various background.
Alongside the studies, I am interested in philosophy, history, and cultures. In my free time, I try to
spend as much time as possible being active and outdoors.
In the following chapters, I will showcase my development in the six general competencies by
giving you brief overviews and an example for each competency using the START method.

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 1. Sports Professional identity

Required level: B Achieved: C // Reflecting and sports awareness, Professional attitude, Career
development and professional training

Throughout the last two years, I steadily developed my professional identity. The studies and
honors college gave me the space I needed to identify who I am as a professional. My
development began with the One Page Profile, and the Reflective Biography. It continued with
reflecting on my personality using feedback and personality tests and went on with two honors
projects. Additionally, I took courses in leadership, counseling, and social entrepreneurship.
Alongside these achievements, I chose to develop my professional identity with an internship in
Spain. In the placement, I acquired new intercultural and communication skills. Notably, in the
Honors College, I got to know the different dimensions of sports through experience. I learned to
be patient, resilient, and careful.

A great example of that is the following situation. In the early stage of the first honors project, I
conducted with EABN (European Basketball Network) the company had no web presence. With
little prior knowledge of website design, I seized the chance to develop my skills.
I had been given the responsibility to coordinate the creation of a company website. The task was
to construct a unique website design for EABN.

First, I compared different website creator programs to identify the one that fits best to the needs
of the company. Next, I taught myself how to use the program by watching tutorials and
experimenting with the program. Alongside these activities, I researched best practice examples in
the Basketball industry to get a glimpse of appealing and successful website designs. Thereby, I
scripted a first draft of the EABN website and identified the content that needed to be produced.
After that was done, I briefed my co-workers. I shared my results, introduced them to the website
program and explained the content we needed. I suggested splitting the work to be more efficient
and to involve everyone in the process. I continued working on developing the website, while the
rest would write the content. Once the first draft of the site was finished I reviewed the website
with my colleges, I took notes of things we wanted to improve. Furthermore, I reached out to my
network. I met with a person that is more experienced in website design, presented the website
and gathered feedback. I did the same with a person with an expertise in editing and design. After
receiving the expert feedback, I met with my team again and shared the new input, explained
what we needed to improve and continued working on the website.

As a result, EABN finally got a professional web presence that is online since 2017. The website
has been reviewed by my supervisor Drew Henderson, who liked the outcome. Moreover, the
website is part of the project, which later has been graded with a 9,2/10 by my coach Jim Lo a Njoe
(see portfolio - EABN).

After all, this experience significantly contributed to my development as an entrepreneurial-

minded sports professional. I consider the skills I acquired as great assets, as I could use them in
other contexts. For example, in the European Vital Cities project, in my internship, and my digital

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portfolio. Next, to the website design skills, I also gained experience in networking,
entrepreneurial thinking, coaching and event management during my time at EABN. All these
positive impressions shaped my professional identity. Nowadays I am confident to develop my
professionalism by seeking new collaborations and projects continuously. That is why other people
(see feedback Zalan and Leonie) and I am convinced that I achieved level C.

2. Methodical and evidence-based approach

Required level: B Achieved: C

A methodical approach, Knowledge worker

Regarding a methodical and evidence-based approach, there have been serval occasions that
contributed to the evolution of my capabilities. In projects such as the Preventive Organizational
Diagnose, Vitality in Organizations, Research, and the Local policy game I learned the correct use
of various models, tools and methodical approaches that aim to result in evidence-based
professional products.
In my recent involvement in a Community of Practice, I could prove myself as a knowledge worker
once again.

The situation was the following. The group was about to perform a peer assessment using an
assessment form I created based on the general sports professional competences. My colleges
struggled with the point “intercultural sensitivity.” They did not know how to assess each other as
no one felt the cultural difference within the group.

In my role as “Knowledge Master” (being the person in charge of gathering and supplying the
group with information on relevant topics), it was my task and responsibility to clear the situation.

I decided to research a relevant article that suits the situation. Next, I summarized the material in a
few words and shared it with the group. Furthermore, I attached a personal note to the matter
that stated my opinion with the goal to facilitate the groups thinking. I expressed that I can
comprehend their difficulties with this point. I explained that we know each other for almost two
years and our difference became normal, even an integral part of the individuals. I suggested that
we should try to look at the bigger picture seeing what we have learned about each other’s
cultures and how we can use this knowledge when encountering strangers. Afterward, I implied
that we should dedicate some time to our next meeting to explore the role of intercultural
competences in a globalized world and how it could affect our future work.

The result was an exciting session in which we talked about our backgrounds, traditions, the
differences between our countries and what we expect will change in future. Subsequently,
everyone could improve the section “intercultural sensitivity” in the feedbacks. Finally, we had an

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extended two-hour feedback session. During the peer assessment, the group thanked me for my
carrying character and my leadership qualities (see Feedbacks).

Looking back at the previous two years this example is merely a representation of my way of
working on every single project and assignment I have been involved in. I am passionate about
learning new things, and I enjoy passing on the knowledge I obtained. On the other hand, I
appreciate people giving me insights on topics I am unfamiliar with. My attitude to acknowledge
different points of views as valuable helps me to understand opposing parties better than most
people. In the end, the truth lies in the middle. I consider this competence as the foundation for a
directed professional development. The correctness of input and the ability to share and obtain
knowledge in different ways is essential when working for the best possible outcome. For these
reasons, I think that I achieved level C in this competence.

3. Collaboration in teams and networks

Required level: B Achieved: B

Collaboration, Networking, Positioning

As part of the Sports studies program, I gained a lot of experience in collaborating in teams and
networks. In most of the courses, my fellow students and I have been working in groups to solve
challenging assignments in different contexts. For example in the courses event management,
POD, European Vital Cities and the local policy game to name just a few. As before mentioned, I
am part of the Honors College, which gave me the opportunity to further expand my network with
students from interdisciplinary studies as well as with the Dutch taught sports studies courses.
Next, to that, I seized the chance to grow my network on an international level by doing an
internship in the Sports, Health & Well-being department of the University of Vigo in Spain.

A great example of my capability to collaborate in teams and networks is a situation that

happened recently during my time in Spain.

It was at the beginning of the internship. I was new to the department and not yet familiar with
the daily business. My supervisor called a co-worker and me in his office to assign us to the first big
task.

The task was to come up with a social media promotion strategy for the upcoming running event
“HappyGoRunning” and execute it accordingly. I was supposed to lead the process.
After receiving the tasks, I sat together with my colleague to find out how we can proceed. First,
we got familiar with each other. We talked about our backgrounds, experiences and professional
limitations. I found out that my college was good with photoshop, designing and fluent in Spanish,
and Galego. He had no knowledge of Sports. I shared my experiences in marketing, social media
plus my background as Sports professional and my limited Spanish skills. We agreed that I would
work out a promotion strategy and content plan to promote the running event. My college would
oversee the translation and design of the content I would produce and publish. After I finished my
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research and the strategic plan I presented the results to my college. Together we edit and
executed the plan. During the two-month execution phase, I worked closely with him together. I
helped my college to improve the content design by giving him an outsider opinion on his work.
And he helped me with the language. We managed to balance having fun and being productive by
reminding each other of our duties.

The result was a frictionless collaboration (see feedback Iago) and a successful promotion
campaign. We achieved to improve the engagement on the social media channels and contributed
to the overall goal to increase the participation in the event successfully. Finally, our boss liked our
team effort and the result of our work. He expressed his appreciation on multiple occasions. (see
feedback Javier)

This situation showed me the importance of sharing my personal expertise, strength, and
weaknesses to the people I am working with to achieve a common goal. It also taught me to ask
for other people’s opinions constantly.
For that reason, I think that I attained level B in this competence.

4. Communicates effectively

Required level: B Achieved: level B

Empathy in communication, Correct use of language, means of communication

Effective communication is a natural strength of mine. During the studies, I found myself in many
unknown situations, such as a before mentioned group works, honors college and internships.
While my way of communicating always has been clear and polite, I made significant progress in
tailoring my language according to the context and the recipient. Nowadays I use my talent to
express my ideas not only for my own good but also to help others make their point. Mainly, the
group works contributed to considerable development in my empathy in communication.

In the community of practice, a great situation in which I showed my communication skills

occurred. Two members of the group had been put in charge to write a script for a documentary
we planned to produce. The two asked for feedback and tips to improve the script.

My task was to help to improve the documentary script and communicate my ideas effectively.

I read the script and took notes. After reading the script, I understood the storyline. However,
some points remained unclear to me. To make sure I understand everything right I contacted the
two via WhatsApp. In the message, I expressed my appreciation for their work, summarized my
interpretation of the script and asked if I understood everything. After the two confirmed that I
was correct, I raised different questions to get a deeper understanding of their ideas. Based on
that I continued by creating a document in which I expressed my thoughts to improve the existing
script and shared it on Google Drive, open to the whole group. Finally, I suggested in the group

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chat that we should devote some time to our next COP meeting (Skype) to exchange our ideas to
come up with an improved script. Everyone should add thoughts to the document I uploaded
previously in preparation.

In the next meeting, we had an open dialog in which each COP member articulated their ideas. As
a result, we came up with an improved script that helped us to revise our final product.

Reflecting on the situation, I think that I managed to include everyone due to my way of
communicating. I respected individual differences and backgrounds and gave everyone a fair
chance to contribute to the result while sharing my own vision.
In general, I learned to ask open questions and to listen more carefully. The leadership and the
counseling courses taught me to pay more attention to other people’s ideas and to tune my
language to the situation. Today I give others the chance to speak out first.

Based on the constant positive feedback from my peers and other people I engage with I think that
I achieved the level B in effective communication. (See feedback in portfolio)

5. Functioning effectively in an international and

intercultural environment

Required level: B Achieved: C

Engagement and sensitivity and Interculturalism

The international and intercultural environment was one of my primary motivators to pursue a study
abroad. I am proud to tell that I met and befriended with people from about 50 different countries.
And I had the chance to work with people from over 15 different nationalities. That and a course in
intercultural competences give me a solid background in intercultural sensitivity. In situations like the
international West Ham United game, the local policy game, my internship in Vigo I showed that I
function effectively in a global environment.

In my internship in the Sports, Health & Well-being department of the University of Vigo I worked
together with people from Poland, Turkey, and Spain. To proof my competence, I will pinpoint one
situation.
It was at the end of my internship, I was familiar with the department and knew the employees.
My supervisor assigned me to identify ways he can ensure that future interns can find their place
in the department easier. The task was to spot room for improvement and assignments for
prospective interns.
I started with the end in mind. Asking myself “What is the best possible result I can deliver?”. I
came up with the idea to call in a meeting with the other four interns to address the topic. My idea
behind that was to use the cultural diversity (Polish, Spanish, Turkish and German) to get a mix of
perspectives on how the department can help interns to be more valuable. My Spanish co-workers

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could give valuable input on the local culture, and the internationals share their experience on
working in the department. I led the meeting raising questions about different projects, and
processes interns are usually involved in. I encouraged everyone to add their opinion and work
practices from their home countries. After the meeting, I processed the input in a document that
summarised the tips for improvement and possible future assignments for new interns.
Subsequently, I presented the result to my supervisor.
The outcome of the situation was not only the document I worked out, but also that we (interns)
all learned more about each other's backgrounds. On a personal note, that is more valuable to me.

After all, this reflects a typical situation of my daily life since I started studying sports in the
Netherlands. As an international myself I gained extensive experiences of working in an
international environment. Every assignment I conducted during the studies added to it. To me, it
feels natural to work with people from various backgrounds, and I think diversity is vital to
innovate products, services and the international dialogue itself. One of my professional goals is to
keep working in an international environment as it really sparks my interest. Every encounter with
a new group of people bears new insights into all the beautiful cultures. In the end, I am convinced
that I achieved the level C in this competence.

6. Acting responsibly and demonstrating engaged

citizenship

Required level: B Achieved: Level B

Ethics, Citizenship

The studies taught me the ethical aspects of sports. No matter if one is focusing on the social,
health or economic value of sports we always must consider current issues. Being aware of your
own moral compass is indispensable to position yourself critically and responsibly effectively.
Courses like public administration, the local policy game, social city identity marketing and
European Vital cities sharpened my view on current issues and how to find solution approaches.
The interdisciplinary course in social entrepreneurship trained me in identifying social problems
and finding innovative solutions (see portfolio certificates).

One great example that contributed to the development of this competence is the following.
During the second semester in year two of the studies, I was involved in a group project in the
European Vital cities course. My fellow students and I were about to conduct a value proposition
for a social solution to the refugee problem in Stockholm, Sweden.
My task was to lead through the process of the value proposition to identify the needs, wants and
desires of different stakeholders involved in the social problem.

I started by introducing the value proposition. Then, I continued with the first group of people we
wanted to emphasize with – Refugees. I asked for the input of my team. I mapped their ideas

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about the needs, desires, and pains of the refugees on a flipchart. While doing so, I kept asking
critical questions to challenge the groups thinking and stated my opinion. I did so under
consideration of the refugee’s background and motivation to come to Stockholm, based on the
research I have done on the current situation beforehand. Afterward, I repeated the process for
three more groups to get a complete picture of the case and the different points of views.

The result was a proper value proposition. It was part of the final course product – a long read,
which was assessed by Roya, Jim and Drew in a final presentation. I got an 8,7 out of 10.
Moreover, the peer evaluations showed that my peers greatly appreciated my accountability,
preparedness and my critical thinking (See peer assessment vital cities).

Looking back, I can tell that I enjoyed the exploring social issues and finding solutions to real-life
problems innovatively using the power of sports. The Vital cities course motivated me to
participate in the social entrepreneurship course. The public administration course also inspired
me to look deeper into the option to professionalize in public health and health promotion on a
European scale. I want to help to create the right conditions for everyone to have a fair chance on
a healthy life. I think that a career in health promotion, education, and policy-making will fulfill me.
For these reasons, I believe that I attained the level B in this competence.

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Overview of supporting documents
Name of proof
Feedback Internship_Claudia
Feedback_Internship_Magda
Feedback Internship Iago
Feedback_Internship_Javier(Supervisor) 1,3,4,5
Honors_EABN_Assessmentform
Feeback_CDME_Honors_project
Feedback Vital cities
Feeback COP Zalan
Feeback COP Leonie
Honors project EABN
Honors project CDME
Trainer Licences
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Name the number of Describe shortly what the proof is
the competence(s) to (sometimes only the name of it)
which the supporting
document belongs
1,3,4,5 This is Co-worker feedback from my
internship in Spain
1,3,4,5 This is Co-worker feedback from my
internship in Spain
1,3,4,5 This is Co-worker feedback from my
internship in Spain
This is the Supervisor feedback from
my internship in Spain
1,2,4,5,6 This is the assessment form for my
honors project with EABN ( see EABN)
1,2,4,5,6 This is a Feedback from the Club
Deportivo Minas e Energía I did my
second honors project with during my
time in Spain ( see CDME)
1,2,4,5,6 This is peer feedback from my group
work in the Vital Cities project (see
feedback)
1,2,3,5 This is peer feedback from the COP
(see feedback)
1,2,3,5 This is peer feedback from the COP
(see feedback)
1,2,3,4,5,6 Project review – This is a review of my
first honors project giving details of my
work for EABN ( see EABN)
1,2,3,4,5,6 Project review – This is a review of my
second honors project with CDME in
Spain ( see CDME)
1 These are licenses showing my
personal development (see
certificates)
Social entrepreneurship certificates 1,6 These are certificates showing my self-
driven professional development and
interest in exploring moral issues and
social problems (see certificates)

Reflective Biography 1 This is an assignment in which I

reflected on my own sports career and
personality in context to my heritage
(see assignments)

One Page Profile 1 This is an assignment in which I

reflected on my personality. Identified
my strengths & weaknesses and how
to collaborate with me (see
assignments)

Personality tests 1 These are tests (DISC-test, Work-value

test, competences test, and
16personality test) that helped me
getting a better idea of who I am and
show my keen interest in developing
myself using various methods (the
personality tests)

Advisory report Local policy game 4,5,6 The advisory report of the local policy
game, which I won with my group. (see
assignments)

Essay_change agent 1,6 The public administration essay “The

change agent” in which I looked
critically on how health is being
promoted in the EU (see assignments)

All the proofs are available in my digital portfolio.

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