Welcome in the Department of Education and Culture

Welcome to the Department of Education and Culture in Sport at the Institute of Sport Science at the Universität Münster. The research area was established in the winter semester 2022/23 and thus represents the most recent expansion at the Institute of Sport Science and underlines the importance of a qualified (initial) education of future sport teachers.
In teaching and research, we deal with sports pedagogical issues that primarily relate to school sports, i.e. to physical education and other extracurricular activities (e.g. class trips with a sports focus, physical activity programs in all-day programs, etc.) that complement or deepen physical education pedagogically. One focus of our work is the education and training of physical education teachers and the support of their professional development, because not only future teachers, but also those who are already in the profession, are constantly confronted with social transformations that also have an impact on physical education. More recently, the right of all children and adolescents to participate in the general school system ("inclusion"), but also ongoing migration movements, for example, have brought the heterogeneity of the student body into focus. However, the ubiquitous availability of digital media is also changing the face of (school) sport and the associated sport pedagogical requirements, which we are contributing to researching on the one hand and for which we are developing training concepts on the other, in order to prepare pedagogical specialists appropriately.
On the following pages you will find further information on our research areas, on topics related to teaching as well as on the team of the department. We hope that you will find all the information you need on our homepage. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly!
 

News

© Reinhart

1st Symposium on the History of Equestrian Sport under National Socialism

Just under half a year after the start of the research collaboration between the German Equestrian Federation (FN) and the IfS (Reinhart/Krüger), a colloquium was held with Master’s students and experts from the equestrian world to discuss the current state of the research and present the findings to date from their own source research.

WGI Olympic Study Day: Skateboarding – between lifestyle and competitive sport

On 9 July, Titus Dittmann (Skate-Aid), ‘Cola’ Kuhn (former chair of the Skateboarding Commission) and Julius Dittman (CEO at Titus) discussed the evolution of skateboarding, from DIY (do-it-yourself) to the Olympics. Whilst the panellists highlighted the sporting aspects, various surveys carried out amongst the audience revealed that skateboarding is here more closely associated with a particular, non-conformist lifestyle. The development of this unique sport – set to return to the Olympic programme in 2028 – remains exciting!

As part of the WGI OSD’s supporting programme, a mobile mini-ramp was also available for visitors to try out and get a feel for skateboarding. It became clear that, as well as technique, it also takes a fair bit of courage.

© Samuel Scharfe

Education and Culture in Sport at the CEREPS Summit 2026

From 29 June to 1 July 2026, the Willibald Gebhardt Institute hosted the international CEREPS Summit 2026 at the Franz-Hitze-Haus in Münster. CEREPS is a European-focused research network that promotes research and networking in the fields of physical education, sports instruction and school sport. More than 60 participants from academia, the field, politics and sport exchanged views on current developments in children’s and youth sport in schools and clubs.
The Education and Culture in Sport research group was also actively represented: Yoonkyu Song chaired an international symposium on inclusive physical education teacher training, at which Prof. Dr Helga Leinweber presented a paper from a German perspective. Laura van de Loo also presented a poster during the poster session.
The summit thus provided an important opportunity for international exchange and further networking within a European context.

© Leineweber

IfS meets Kindergarden

As part of the ‘Individual Support and Psychomotor Skills’ module, led by Dr C. Bohn, a group from St Theresia Kindergarten in Münster visited the university. The students had prepared a wide range of physical activities for the pre-school children in the psychomotor skills room. Whilst the children experimented with unfamiliar materials at various stations and practised their motor skills through swinging, jumping, balancing, climbing and so on, the trainee PE teachers had the opportunity to hone their diagnostic skills and apply their pedagogical knowledge and abilities in ‘real-life’ conditions. It was therefore a special and rewarding event for everyone involved!

© Majlis Christiansen

Olympic Study Day: Skateboarding – between a lifestyle and a competitive sport

Skateboarding has been an Olympic sport since the Tokyo Olympics (2020/21). Rather than unanimous enthusiasm, the reaction within the scene has been divided. Some fear that skateboarding will be commercialised and that its ‘punk’ spirit will be lost.

We’ll be discussing the tension between lifestyle and competitive sport with some of skateboarding’s most influential figures: Titus Dittmann, ‘Cola’ Kuhn and Julius Dittmann.

Thursday 9 July, 10 am–12 noon c.t., Leo 17.21

Mini-ramp available to try out! Hosted by Dr Kai Reinhart. Free entry!