Erasmus Mundus Design Measure Project: Developing the COSMOS Master

Head of Project
Prof. Dr. Astrid Schubring (Institute of Sociology and Gender Studies)
Prof. Dr. Karen Petry 

Project Staff
Laura Van Zantvoort

Research Period
1. Oktober 2025 - 31. Dezember 2026

Partners

  1. Czech Republic: Palacky University Olomouc, Department of Social Science and Kinanthropology. Arnost Svoboda
  2. Croatia: School of Medicine, Department of Environment and Occupational Health and Sports Medicine, Zagreb. Hana Brborovic
  3. Ireland: Munster Technological University, School of Health and Social Sciences, Health and Leisure Studies, Tralee. Catherine Carty and Michael Hall
  4. Sweden: Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg. Suzanne Lundvall and Heléne Bergentoft
  5. Brasil: University of São Paulo -Ribeirão Preto, School of Physical Education and Sport. Prof. Renato Marques

Project Description

Sport and movement cultures have a unique capacity to address the challenges of the 21st century associated with ongoing social inclusion and transformation processes at individual, organisational and societal levels. In particular, locally organised community sport and physical activity programmes strongly possess this positive capacity. These low-threshold sports and movement hubs can offer individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment to be physically active, thrive and belong. Further, community sport and movement cultures are cultural expressions which can provide a multitude of individual and social benefits, especially with regard to marginalised and “at-risk” groups of society. Taken together, sport and movement cultures constitute an important platform to address, among others, Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, and 10.

This 15-month-long Erasmus Mundus Design Measure project therefore aims to jointly develop a fully integrated 2-year-long international Erasmus Mundus Master in Community Sport and Movement for Social Transformation (COSMOS). The Department of Sociology of Sport, Institute of Sociology and Gender Studies functions as the project coordinator together with the Institute of International Sport Development and Leisure Studies. In this role, they lead the overall Design Measure Project. Their responsibilities include developing initial administrative procedures, guiding the collaborative design of the COSMOS curriculum and the associated competencies framework, overseeing quality assurance and accreditation, and coordinating dissemination to promote the programme globally. While they lead these tasks, all work is carried out in close collaboration with the international partner institutions.

The planned design measure of the joint Master’s degree programme brings together an international consortium of six higher education institutions in Europe and Brazil. In a collaborative and participatory process, they bring together extensive academic and practical knowledge in order to address the urgent issues of social inclusion, transformation and marginalisation by means of community development, sport and movement cultures.

To create a vibrant, future-oriented learning environment, the COSMOS curriculum integrates key thematic areas such as project management, education for sustainable development, inclusion and social justice as well as participatory methodologies and community involvement. These interconnected areas equip students with a comprehensive set of competences needed to work effectively in diverse community contexts and to lead transformative initiatives.

By bringing together the expertise of all partners and associated stakeholders, the consortium aims to educate the next generation of professional leaders in the field of community development, sport, and movement cultures. In doing so, they contribute to reinforce international exchange as a driver of innovation in the European Education Area and help to foster excellence and transnational partnership of higher education institutions.