Loughborough University at MINEPS VII
The UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University will attend the UNESCO Global Sports Conference – MINEPS VII in Azerbaijan, 26-29 June 2023.
The UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University comprises a multidisciplinary team of academics and students with research, teaching, and outreach interests in sport, physical activity and education for development.
The Chair aims to advance knowledge, policy, and practice in how sport, physical activity and education are and may be utilised for the physical, personal and social development of young people across the world.
We enjoyed meeting you at the UNESCO Global Sports Conference – MINEPS VII in Azerbaijan – and would encourage you to get in touch with our team in order to collaborate with our researchers.
Why collaborate with Loughborough University?
Meet the team
Professor Paul Downward
Paul Downward is Professor of Economics and leads the School of Sport, Exercise and Health research theme: Sport, Business and Society. His main areas of expertise are:
- the determinants of sport, physical activity and volunteering and their impacts on:
- Health and well-being
- Social capital, social inclusion and exclusion,
- Human capital and labour markets.
- He also addresses the consequences of health and well-being on personal, social and economic outcomes.
He has undertaken research in these areas for a large number of stakeholders including: the DCMS, UK Sport, Sport England, and The IOC.
For more information, visit Paul's staff profile.
Professor Paula Griffiths
Paula Griffiths is Professor of Population Health and Associate Dean Research and Innovation in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. Her main areas of expertise are:
- Early years support for development and growth
- Community based interventions to improve early child development and growth
- Multisectoral solutions to optimal child development in the early years.
She has undertaken research in these areas in Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
As part of this research, Paula has worked with many different organizations including UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, World Food Programme, Lego Foundation, as well as Ministries of Health and Education and devolved regional authorities in a number of countries.
For more information, visit Paula's staff profile.
Professor Richard Giulianotti
Richard Giulianotti is Professor of Sociology and leads the UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University. His main areas of expertise are:
- Sport for Development and Peace: how sport, physical activity and education can be used to promote development and peace in different parts of the world
- Sport and peacebuilding
- Sport and social inclusion (e.g. disability, gender, marginalized young people, refugees)
- Sport, the environment and climate change.
He has undertaken research in these areas in Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
As part of this research, Richard has worked with many different organisations including: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNOSDP, Commonwealth Secretariat, sportanddev/Swiss Academy for Development, Barca Foundation, streetfootballworld, Play International, Open Fun Football Schools, Comic Relief, Delta Cultura, Sarvodaya, Right4Children, and Himalayan Life.
For more information, visit Richard's staff profile.
Dr Oliver Hooper
Oliver Hooper is a Lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. He specialises in physical education (PE) and youth sport. His main areas of expertise are:
- Gender and sexuality within PE and youth sport
- PE and youth sport for marginalised young people (e.g., disabled youth, care-experienced youth, young people excluded from mainstream schooling)
- Trauma-informed practice within PE and youth sport
- Social and emotional learning within PE and youth sport
- PE and youth sport curriculum and pedagogy
- Health-related learning within PE and youth sport.
He also acts as the lead for the Loughborough/UNESCO Student Network as part of the the UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University.
Oliver has worked with many different organisations as part of his research including: UNESCO, the Association for PE and the Youth Sport Trust.
For more information, visit Oliver's staff profile.
Dr Serhat Yilmaz
Serhat Yilmaz is Lecturer in Sports Law at Loughborough University. His research is on the intersection of law, sport and human rights. His main areas of expertise are:
- Integrity of sport: the exploitation and trafficking of young talent
- Minors and children’s rights in sport: the rights-based approach to safeguarding of minors
- Sports agents: malpractices and governance of the agent profession.
He has undertaken research in these areas in Europe, South America and Africa.
Closely aligned and directly informed by his research expertise, Serhat adopts education as an important impact tool. He has developed and run the Professional Certificate Programme for Sports Agents – a kitemark executive education for agents in the sport industry. He has also led on the design and development of the FIFA Minors Course – a compulsory CPD education qualification for football agents globally. Serhat is currently working on developing educational initiatives for players/athletes and their parents.
As part of this research, Serhat has worked with organizations including UNICEF, FIFA, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, and Mission89. The originality and rigor of Serhat’s research has led to external fundings from the European Union (EU), UNICEF, FIFA, and the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
For more information, visit Serhat's staff profile.