STAPS graduates: What training for what professional integration?

The past decade has seen a steady increase in the number of STAPS (Science and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities) students. STAPS courses have always been very much in demand, but their hosting capacity cannot be further increased without taking a closer look at the professional opportunities open to those who complete such courses. This article draws on the results of a national survey conducted in 2018 among a representative sample of class of 2016 STAPS graduates from various educational institutions (n = 2,086). It analyzes the studies the graduates went on to pursue and/or the characteristics of their professional integration using indicators to measure the quality of their employment. The results show an employment integration rate of 82.1% for all STAPS degrees (90.9% for Master’s degrees), the equivalent of 5,239 jobs held nationwide. Obtaining a higher level of degree in STAPS improves some indicators of employment stability and enables graduates to access to more positions of responsibility in the targeted professional sub-sector. The positions held by graduates bear witness to a successful diversification in training curricula and career paths operated by the STAPS sector, despite competition from other certification systems for sports professions.