Recently, the modification of the Baccalaureate curriculum of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria has been approved. In this modification, a new optional subject has been included in the 2nd year of baccalaureate in the area of Physical Education, entitled Development of Active and Healthy Lifestyle, which has a teaching load of 4 hours, and which can be implemented in all schools in Cantabria from the next academic year.
The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) has supported during the process the implementation of this subject, signing an academic endorsement of support for this subject, being aware of the importance of preventive health in society. The Faculty of Health Sciences, the degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (CAFYD), Human Nutrition and Dietetics (NHD), and Psychology (PSI) have been fundamental pillars in this process.
This historic milestone has been promoted by Iván González Gutiérrez, teacher of IES Muriedas and teacher of the Master’s Degree in Teacher Training of Compulsory Secondary Education and Baccalaureate, Vocational Training and Language Teaching of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO), who implemented this subject in his centre during the academic year 2023/2024, and whose students have attended two training days at the university such as a talk on injury prevention by Florent Osmani, teacher of the degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (CAFYD), and another that consisted of a visit to the facilities to get to know the University and the degree.
The aim of this optional course is to consolidate an active and healthy lifestyle among the students, to consolidate body competence for health and quality of life, and to give continuity to the work done in Physical Education (PE) in previous years.
Specifically, this subject deals with aspects related to the design and planning of physical activity (PA) programmes and balanced nutritional plans, actions to prevent the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, knowledge of studies, itineraries and professional opportunities linked to physical activity and health, planning and development of projects, physical-sports activities, artistic-expressive techniques, manifestations of traditional motor culture and activities in the natural environment.
In practice, the new subject will try to propose meaningful activities for students according to their interests, functional and transferable to their daily lives, using resources and possibilities of the context of the centre, to bring it closer to the environment, and thus promote the practice of physical activity by students. All of this, through the use of active methodologies that involve the students and increase their participation.
UNEATLANTICO reaffirms its firm support for the promotion of health and the academic offer that contributes to improving the quality of life of society.