Dr. Karen Petry
Deputy Head of the Institute
Professional and academic career
- 10/08 - today: Deputy Head of the Institute of 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:
- 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 project managements:
- ERASMUS+ Policy Advocacy for Sport and Society (PASS)
- ERASMUS+ Empowered by 3x3 (EB3X3)
- ERASMUS Integration of Refugees Through Sport (IRTS)
- Sport for Refugees Coalition (SFRC), supported by UNHCR
- GIZ - Quality Assurance of the Capacity Development Activities in the field of “Sport for Development"
Recently completed projects (archive):
- Management of the project "Sustainability & Education for Sustainable Development in Children's and Youth Sport" 2023 on behalf of the German Sports Youth in the DOSB (dsj)
- Management of the project "Monitoring & Evaluation of the long-term project in Jordan" on behalf of the DOSB
- Management of the project "FC in Bewegung - gemeinsam in eine nachhaltige Zukunft - ein Methodenhandbuch" on behalf of 1. FC Köln
- Management of the project "Competence promotion - impact-oriented monitoring and impact measurement in the field of sport for development" on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Management of the project "Quality assurance and further development of capacity development in the field of sport for development" on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Management of the ERASMUS+ project "Sport and Social Cohesion Lab" (SSCL)
- Management of the book project "Education in Sport and Physical Activity: Future Directions and Global Perspectives" (together with Johan de Jong/NL). Published by Routledge Verlag
- Management of the ERASMUS+ project PEAK in cooperation with various partners
- Management of the scientific monitoring of long-term DOSB sports projects in Botswana and The Gambia
- Management of the ERASMUS+ project "EDU PACT" in cooperation with 9 European partner universities (duration 2018 to 2020)
- 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
- 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)
- Management of the project "Regional Project "Sport for Development in Africa" of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Duration 2016 to 2018)
- Management of the book project "Comparative sport development: systems, participation and public policy" (together with Kirstin Hallmann). Springer International Press (duration 2012 to 2013)
- Management of the project "Evaluation of the Laureus Projects in Germany" (funded by the LAUREUS Foundation Germany) (duration 2011 to 2012)
- Management of the project "Monitoring and Evaluation of Jambo Bukoba" (an initiative to promote school sports in Tanzania) (running since 2010)
- Management of the evaluation of the project "Coach Education in Europe" (funded by the European Commission) (duration 2011 2013)
- Management 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)
- Management 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
- Management of the project "Evaluation of the intersectoral youth social work project `Körbe für Köln`". Duration 10/2003 to 12/2006
- Management 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.
"Sport for Development, Peace and Environment in a Multidisciplinary and Global Perspective"
Dr. Karen Petry has been awarded the title of Co-Chairholder for the new UNESCO Chair "Sport for Development, Peace and Environment in a Multidisciplinary and Global Perspective" by UNESCO. The UNESCO Chair was applied by Prof. Dr. Tegwen Gadais (Chairholder) from the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada (UQAM), Département des Sciences de l'Activité Physique. Following approval by the Canadian UNESCO Commission, the application was reviewed by the UNESCO Headquarter in Paris and initially approved for 4 years. This means that there are currently 10 UNESCO Chairs in Sports Science worldwide.
The new UNESCO Chair focuses on sport, physical activity and physical education initiatives and projects that are implemented in response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted by the United Nations, specifically in the four areas: Gender and Equity (SDGs 5, 8, 10), Environment and Nature, Climate Change and the Outdoors (SDG13), Health and Education (SDG3, 4), Peace and Social Cohesion (SDG16). It brings together experts from all continents, in many languages, on several themes to offer a global, multidisciplinary and collaborative vision of research work between the “Global North“ and “Global South” countries. The UNESCO Chair focuses mainly on collaborative projects, or the creation of partnerships at several levels (local, regional, national or international) and between several actors (researchers, civil society, administrators, beneficiaries). In addition, the Chair places particular emphasis in its projects on disadvantaged and marginalized populations (e.g., refugees, indigenous peoples, youth from disadvantaged backgrounds) and the involvement of younger generations (practitioners, students and researchers).
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News
New Approaches to International Sport Politics? The United Nations and UNESCO as Players
Date: 18 June 2024, 11.30 - 15.30 PM
Venue: German Sport University
International sport politics usually has a focus on the IOC and the international sports federations, which are generally responsible for the organization and development of their respective sports worldwide. By contrast, transnational or international organizations are among the actors in international sports policy that have received little attention to date. This neglect of state actors at international level can be explained by the dominant role of international sports organizations, but also by the limited readiness of (European) countries to become more involved in international sports policy and to engage in more comprehensive networking.
The UN system has a special position at international level, in which state actors have at least occasionally or selectively been involved in sports policy. As a relevant UN actor in the fields of education, science and culture, UNESCO has been involved in sport policy issues since 1978 through its Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS). The most visible format of this activity is the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS), which last took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023. The document adopted there, the "Fit for Life Alliance", is primarily of an encouraging nature and does not establish internationally binding regulations. The most recent MINEPS VII conference in particular documents the weak response to such activities: In Germany, there was only a very limited media response to MINEPS VII and there was also generally only limited interest from European countries in becoming more involved into the recent UNESCO activities.
Against the backdrop of these developments, the symposium, organized jointly with the German Commission for UNESCO, shed light on the extent to which German sports policy is prepared to get involved in UNESCO activities and thus assume responsibility in terms of international sports policy. These and other questions were discussed with experts and representatives from politics, the DOSB and GIZ.
In a second part of the event, the objectives and work program of the new UNESCO Co-Chair established at the Institute for European Sport Development and Leisure Studies were presented. The UNESCO Chair entitled "Sport for Development, Peace and Environment in a Multidisciplinary and Global Perspective" has been established at the University of Montreal (UQAM) (Chairholder: Prof. Dr. Tegwen Gadais), with Dr. Karen Petry acting as Co-Chair. The other participating researchers from the Czech Republic (Prof. Simona Safarikova) and Brazil (Prof. Billy Graeff) jointly presented the work program for the next four years.
The symposium had the character of an expert workshop for a small group of people.
During the last week of July, Karen Petry, Alana Richardson and Sally-Ann Jennifer Fischer represented the UNESCO chair and the Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies at UNESCO’s Change the Game Ministerial and Partner Forum. On day 1, the Partners’ forum, we gained interesting insights from a range of sessions on the social impact of sport, investing in people and infrastructure, and innovating investments. On day 2, the Ministerial forum, 4 sessions focused on quality physical education and sport for sustainable social legacies, fighting racism, discrimination and hate speech: the role of sports teachers, gender equality in and through sport, and safe and equal sport. The forum also launched UNESCO’s new report ‘The Social Impact of Sport: unlocking the potential of sport to drive social transformations’. The report provides recommendations for policy-makers, academics, investors and sport stakeholders. As academics within the chair, we look forward to contributing to the calls for more evidence-based insights, research and collective action to #ChangeTheGame over the coming years.
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
- Member of the "Sport for Development" thematic team of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- Member of the "Reference Group" of the "Sport for Refugees Coalition" of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- Member of the Engagement Global sports working group (FAK Sport) for the development of an orientation framework for upper secondary schools on the topic of "Global development and ESD"
- Member of the Development Committee of the World Council for Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE)
- Member of the Faculty Council of the University of Rome "Foro Italico" in the English-language Master's degree program "European Master in Health and Physical Activity"
- Member of the DSHS Cologne Sports Policy Forum
- Reviewer for various international publishers and journals (e.g. Routledge, Palgrave, Springer)
- Member of the advisory committee of the board of the German Sports Youth (DSJ) in the area of "Sustainability in children's and youth sports"
- Board member (2nd chair) of the European Network of Sport Education (ENSE)
- Member and reviewer on the editorial board of the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
- Expert in the context of evaluation processes of projects/programs of international sport promotion (e.g. Federal Foreign Office, Council of Europe, CARE Deutschland e.V. etc.)
- 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)
- Consultant for the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in South Africa (2011), Afghanistan (2014), Brazil (2015), Turkey (2016) and Sri Lanka (2017)
- Expert for various accreditation procedures at the universities of Pristina/Kosova, Tartu and Tallinn/Estonia