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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.
Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies
The increasing interplay between sport policy, societal transformation, political governance, European integration, and globalization has reinforced the strategic importance of sport development as a field of research and practice. The Institute is dedicated to advancing research and higher education in sport policy and leisure studies through interdisciplinary collaboration with leading national and international partners.
The Institute’s research and teaching activities focus on sport policy, sport development—with particular emphasis on Sport for Development—and leisure and tourism studies from a European and global perspective. It serves as a platform for scholarly exchange through the Forum for Sport Policy and its annual international symposia. Since 2024, the Institute has been affiliated with the UNESCO Chair “Sport for Development, Peace and Environment”, further strengthening its international profile and commitment to addressing global challenges through sport.
For more than ten years, the Institute has coordinated the Master’s programme International Sport Development and Politics. Comprising 13 modules and a Master’s thesis, the study provides students with advanced methodological expertise, critical analytical competencies, and a comprehensive understanding of contemporary issues in sport governance, policy, and international development. By integrating academic rigor with practical relevance, the course of studies prepares graduates for leadership roles in research, public policy, international organizations, and the sport sector.