Our research

Our Chair team examine how sport, physical activity and education are used to pursue diverse development goals for young people in different social and cultural contexts, particularly in the global South.

Areas of research and teaching for our team include:

  • Sport for Development and Peace (SDP)
  • Physical education, and the personal and social development of young people
  • Physical activity and health for diverse population groups
  • ‘Safe sport’, particularly through safeguarding protocols and strategies
  • Minor athletes and children’s rights in sport
  • Early years in regard to sport, physical activity and education, and personal and social development
  • Social inclusion in sport, physical activity and education (e.g. for girls and women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, gender diverse groups)
  • CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in the fields of sport, physical activity and education
  • The role of sport, physical activity and education in community-building and increasing social capital
  • Positive Youth Development (PYD) in competitive sport and exercise
  • The effective management, governance, and infrastructure of sport, physical education, and health (including physical activity) systems
  • Climate education and action through sport, physical activity and education
  • The integrity and ethical infrastructures of sport
  • Policy development in sport, physical activity and education
  • The development and application of diverse critical approaches, theories and methods for investigating sport, physical activity and education for development.

The Chair engages particularly with the UN Sustainable Goals, the Kazan Action Plan (MINEPS VI), and UNESCO’s strategies, programmes and initiatives, notably the ‘Fit for Life’ programme.

Find out more