Sport Politics, Sport Development, Leisure Studies
The Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies is the stage for the sport policy and leisure science activities of the German Sport University Cologne. With our cooperation partners, we cover political, social and sports science findings. This creates our own core of sports policy thinking. The Institute's team offers a wide range of teaching and research opportunities for students, academics and all other interested parties.
Global Perspectives on Sport Politics and Development
Sport is increasingly shaped by societal transformation, political governance, European integration, and globalization. As a result, sport development has become a strategically important field of research, policy, and practice. The Institute advances research and higher education in sport policy, sport development, and leisure studies through interdisciplinary collaboration with leading national and international partners.
Our research and teaching focus on sport policy, sport development—with particular emphasis on Sport for Development—and leisure and tourism studies from European and global perspectives. The Institute fosters international scholarly exchange through the Forum for Sport Policy and its annual symposia. Since 2024, it has also been affiliated with the UNESCO Chair Sport for Development, Peace and Environment, further strengthening its international profile and its commitment to addressing global challenges through sport.
For more than a decade, the Institute has coordinated the Master's programme International Sport Development and Politics. The programme combines advanced methodological training with critical analysis of contemporary issues in sport governance, public policy, and international development. Through a curriculum comprising 13 modules and a Master's thesis, students develop the analytical, research, and practical competencies required for careers in academia, public policy, international organizations, and the sport sector.
