Dr. Karen Petry

Deputy Head of the Institute

Professional and academic career

Professional and academic career

  • 10/08 - today: Deputy Heads of the Institute for European Sport Development and Leisure Research at the German Sport University Cologne
  • 12/13 - today: Teaching at the University of Rome in the "European Master in Health and Physical Activity"
  •  2009 - 2012: Teaching at the University of Konstanz in the master program "International Studies in Sport Sciences"
  • 10/1994 - 04/2014: Head of the European Office at the German Sport University Cologne and overall coordination of the EU mobility program "LLP / ERASMUS"
  •  09/03 - 12/04: Member of the jury appointed by the BMBF to decide on projects in the European Year of Education through Sport (EJES)
  •  09/03 - 09/08: Commissioner of the Institute of Leisure Studies (now: European Sports Development and Leisure Research) at the German Sport University Cologne
  •  07/02: Teaching at the Summer University for Sport at the Christian-Albrecht-University in Kiel
  •  12/99 - 03/02: Personal assistant to the rector of the German Sport University
  •  03/99 - today: member of the working group "Internationales" of the German Sports Youth
  •  03/98 - 04/99: Member of the Education and Training Committee of the Rheinische Turnerbund
  •  04/94 - 02/95: freelance work in the representation of the European Commission in Germany
  • 08/91 - today: Research Associate (since 10/1999 unlimited) in the Institute of Leisure Studies at the German Sport University Cologne 
Research focus and ongoing projects

Research focus and ongoing projects

Research focus:

  •     European and international sports policy
  •     International comparison of sports systems
  •     European and national education systems in sport
  •     Sport-related development cooperation
  •     Sport and social integration/ Sport and social work
  •     Sport and Gender 


Current projects:

  •  Management of the project "Scientific Monitoring of the Sector Project "Sport for Development" of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (duration 2013 to 2019)

  •  Management of the project "ERASMUS + Take it to the Street" in cooperation with International Sport Alliance (ISA) (duration 2017 to 2019)



  • Monitoring and evaluation of the project "Sport for Development for Syrian refugees and Turkish children in Gaziantep/ Turkey" coordinated by the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB), financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) (duration 2016 to 2019 )

  •  Management of the ERASMUS+ project "EDU PACT" in cooperation with 9 European partner universities (duration 2018 to 2020)

  • Management of ERASMUS+ project PEAK with different European partner


Recently completed projects (archive):

  • Management of the project "CARE - Sport for Social Change and Education" in cooperation with OTAHARIN, CARE Germany - Luxembourg, Stiftung Hoffnung 1-plus (duration 2016 to 2018)

  • Head of the project "Regional Project "Sport for Development in Africa" of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Duration 2016 to 2018) 
  • Head of the book project "Comparative sport development: systems, participation and public policy" (together with Kirstin Hallmann). Springer International Press (duration 2012 to 2013)
     
  • Head of the project "Evaluation of the Laureus Projects in Germany" (funded by the LAUREUS Foundation Germany) (duration 2011 to 2012)

  •  Head of the project "Monitoring and Evaluation of Jambo Bukoba" (an initiative to promote school sports in Tanzania) (running since 2010)

  •  Head of the evaluation of the project "Coach Education in Europe" (funded by the European Commission) (duration 2011 2013)

  • Head of the project "Sport in Europe", funded by the European Commission. The project included the organisation of a conference, the publication of the book "A perfect Match? Sport and the European Union" and the creation of a homepage (www.sport-in-europe.com ) (running time 2007 to 2008)

  • Lead of the project "Aligning a European Higher Education Structure In Sport Science" (AEHESIS), funded by the European Commission. Within the framework of the project (duration October 2003 - September 2007) model curricula for the areas of sports management, health sports, competitive sports and school sports were developed. The project comprises 70 partners from 30 European countries. Within the framework of the project, a total of 4 conferences, the conception and creation of a homepage (European Sport Education Information Platform www.sophelia.com) as well as a total of 4 book publications were carried out. 

  •  Management of the project "The effect of exchange programmes on the national images of Germany and France - How young French and Germans see their neighbouring country", funded by the German-French Youth Office (DFJW). Duration: 10/2006 to 12/2007

  • Head of the project "Evaluation of the intersectoral youth social work project `Körbe für Köln`". Duration 10/2003 to 12/2006

  •  Head of the project "Evaluation of the German projects of the European Year of Education through Sport 2004", funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Duration 07/2004 - 05/2005. Within the framework of the project the national closing event (approx. 200 participants), the conception and creation of a homepage (www.EJES-Konferenz.de) as well as a book publication took place.

  • Management and implementation of the project "Two players one goal? - Sport and the European Union", funded by the European Commission. The project included the organisation of a symposium (approx. 60 participants), the conception and creation of a homepage (www.sport-in-Europe.com) as well as a book publication.

  • Management and implementation of various sports sociological and sports pedagogical research projects, e.g. on the construction of gender relations in early childhood physical activity promotion - funded by the Ministry of Science and Research of the State of NRW.

  • Collaboration in the research association "Social construction of gender relations in sport" - DSHS Cologne (Prof. Dr. Ilse Hartmann-Tews, Dr. Karen Petry), University of Bielefeld (Prof. Dr. Christa Kleindienst-Cachay), University of Bochum (Prof. Dr. Marie-Luise Klein), University of Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Petra Gieß-Stüber). A book was published as part of the project.

  •  Conception and evaluation of a further education academy (EAdS)

  • Conception and collaboration in the Competence Centre "Health" - a cross-institutional and interdisciplinary centre for the development of research and practical projects in the fields of health and physical activity. 
Monographs and complete list of publications

Monographs and complete list of publications

list of publications

selected presentations

Information on teaching activities and final theses

Information on teaching activities and final theses

  • Head of the Bachelor's programme "Sport, Experience and Exercise" (2008 - 2011)
  • Courses on sports sociology topics (leisure/cross sports, sports organisations, health sports)
  • Courses on sports policy topics sponsored by the Jean Monnet Programme of the European Union, among others
  • Lecturer at the University of Konstanz in the Master's programme "Sport Science" (Module Sport Policy) (2009 - 2012)
  • Lecturer at the University of Rome in the "European Master in Health and Physical Activity
  • Head of the university continuing education "Sport for Development 
  • Teaching activity within the framework of further training to become a sports foreign expert (DOSB and Federal Foreign Office)
  • Supervision of extracurricular teaching exercises, including examinations and exam teaching samples
  • Supervision and assessment of more than 200 diploma, master and bachelor theses (first and second opinions); member of examination committees of various universities. Doctoral procedure
Functions and activities in academic organisations

Functions and activities in academic organisations

  • European Network of Sport Education (ENSE) Status: President Elect (2017 - 2019)
  • Member of the AG "Quality of Teaching" in the DSHS Cologne (2004 - 2008)
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Sport for Development (A peer reviewed, open access journal)
  • European Academy of Sport (EAdS) Status: Board Member
  • German Association for Sports Science e.V. (DVS) Status: Member
  • Consultant for the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in South Africa (2011), Afghanistan (2014), Brazil (2015), Turkey (2016), and Sri Lanka (2017)
  • Member of the Advisory Board in the EU funded project SPEED (Sport Professions: Education, Employment, Development in the Balkan Region) coordinated by the University of Rome (duration 2014 2016)
  • Expert for various accreditation procedures at the Universities of Pristina/Kosova, Tartu and Tallinn/ Estonia
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics