Meet the partners through CHANGE project: Malmö University

December 2023

The University of Malmo’s Department of Sport Sciences (MAU) is an integral part of the CHANGE project, contributing its expertise and resources to empower grassroots sports development. 

What’s the University of Malmo and its Department of Sport Sciences?

The University of Malmo’s Department of Sport Sciences focuses on societal and social aspects of sport and physical activity. They offer educational programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels, conduct research, and collaborate with various partners in the sports sector.

Who are the primary stakeholders and collaborators of the department?

The department collaborates with national sports federations, sports clubs, municipalities, gyms, football clubs, and other universities in Sweden and Europe. Their collaborations span grassroots and commercial aspects of sports.

Can you tell us more about the team at the Department of Sport Sciences?

The department has 60 employees, including lecturers, researchers, and professors, with diverse backgrounds in social sciences and sports science. They also have around 20 PhD students focused on societal and social aspects of sport.

What is the role of the department in the CHANGE project, and how do they plan to build the knowledge platform?

The department is responsible for Work Package Number Two, which involves creating a knowledge platform. They aim to integrate theoretical and research-based knowledge with empirical input from grassroots sports to understand the challenges and obstacles that grassroots sports face. This approach will help identify solutions and tools for development.

Can you highlight the key observations from the workshops conducted as part of the project?

The workshops revealed that the perspectives of participants sometimes blurred between researchers and sports club representatives. Challenges in grassroots sports were primarily managerial, and the gap between clubs and federations in addressing these challenges became evident.

What challenges and solutions have been identified by the department as part of the CHANGE project?

The challenges identified in the literature review and the workshops differed, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between internal and external views on these challenges. Solutions are expected to provide a systematic approach to understand and address issues on different levels within grassroots sports.

The University of Malmo’s Department of Sport Sciences plays a crucial role in the CHANGE project by building a knowledge platform that integrates theory and empirical insights to address the challenges faced by grassroots sports. Their work aims to create a bridge between different perspectives and levels within the sports sector, ultimately facilitating the development of grassroots sports.