Students’ physical activity as an indicator of the success of physical education programs in higher education institutions

Abstract

The reduction of classroom time and the spread of blended/distance formats reduce the regularity of students' physical activity and complicate the assessment of the quality of physical education programs in higher education institutions (HEIs). It necessitates a simple, reproducible, and manageable indicator approach that accurately reflects the actual behaviour of applicants and is suitable for semester monitoring. The purpose of this study is to propose an approach for measuring and monitoring the physical activity of HEI students based on agreed-upon criteria and simple indicators, and to provide a reporting template for intergroup and wave comparisons. Methods. A conceptual and methodological approach to semester monitoring is described, combining: self-assessment using IPAQ-SF (weekly MVPA minutes and sitting time); digital traces in the LMS (attendance, timeliness of completion, participation in synchronous/asynchronous activities); participation in sectional and individual formats; variety of types of activity; microtasks and simple physical tests; a short block on stress; if necessary, selective device tracking. The rules for normalising and aggregating indicators with controlled weights, periodisation of data collection (at the beginning and end of the semester), approaches to handling absences and ensuring reproducibility have been formulated. Results. The list of criteria and measured indicators of students' motor activity has been clarified and agreed upon (MVPA according to IPAQ-SF, sitting time, attendance at face-to-face classes and participation in sectional/individual formats, variety of activities, microtasks, simple physical tests, and a short block on stress). The data source, units and collection frequency have been determined for each indicator, and the rules for preliminary normalisation and handling of absences have been described. A standardised report template and interpretative guidelines are provided, consistent with WHO recommendations, ensuring the reproducibility and comparability of data and their suitability for regular semester monitoring of students' physical activity, supporting management decisions in HEIs. Conclusions. The proposed indicator approach is a transparent and manageable tool suitable for regular semester monitoring in HEIs and supporting management decisions at the department and university levels, which is easily adaptable to full-time, sectional and individual lesson formats and can serve as the basis for further testing and validation on empirical samples.