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The Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PEPAYS) Ireland Research Centre, at the ºÚÁÏÉç in Ireland, is delighted to offer the opportunity to undertake a one year full-time Research Master’s aligned to the recently awarded UNESCO Chair in Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy for Sustainable Development. The objectives of the UNESCO Chair are to (1) educate physical education and sport pedagogy stakeholders in sustainable development and provide an advocacy skill set by which they can promote future-oriented sustainable development across multiple and diverse societies, (2) develop and disseminate an innovative research agenda/portfolio that captures the pressing issues and potential synergies between physical education, sport pedagogy and sustainable development, with a view to directing stakeholders in meaningful research endeavours in the area, and (3) establish an international and sustainable network across academia, civil society, local communities, practitioners and policymakers that builds stakeholder capacity in physical education and sport pedagogy for sustainable development. The successful candidate will be tasked with exploring the international trends in educating physical education and sport pedagogy stakeholders in sustainable development, informing how best to provide an advocacy skill set by which sustainable development across multiple and diverse societies can be promoted. Preliminary research already undertaken by PEPAYS Ireland will be made available to the successful candidate to support their initial work. The strategic goal of the PEPAYS Ireland Research Centre is to develop a critical mass of researchers actively contributing to multi-disciplinary and multi-entity research that impacts policy and practice related to health and wellbeing of populations in the areas of physical education, (youth) sport, physical activity and health. Where feasible, the successful candidate would have an opportunity to travel to one of the UNESCO Chair partner countries to present their ongoing work and its application to international contexts 

Fees and stipend: Candidates undertaking the Research Masters full-time will be enrolled at the ºÚÁÏÉç and be eligible for a 1-year fee waiver and a bursary of €9,000. 

Application: Applicants are requested to apply comprising: (i) a CV – max 3 pages, and (ii) an application statement of no more than 600 words that outlines (1) familiarity and interest in physical education and/or sport pedagogy and/or sustainability, and (2) the skill set and interests of the applicant that align with the advertised opportunity. 

Applications are to be sent to pepays@ul.ie by Monday 7 April 2025 with online interviews to be conducted the week beginning Monday 14 April 2025. It is expected that the start date for the successful candidate will be June 2025. 

For informal queries and further information please contact Ann.MacPhail@ul.ie