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Research impact

Football4peace

Our research is a vehicle for conflict resolution and peace building in divided societies and led to the creation of the Football4Peace (F4P). By challenging cultural prejudice F4P has transformed passive citizens into active ambassadors for peace. More than 8,000 children, 595 coaches and many community leaders have participated in F4P projects during the census period, generating political discourse in the community and in governments up to ministerial level. Innovative community relations research in the context of Northern Ireland’s peace process led to the development of the F4P initiative. Subsequently it changed the policies of sporting organisations in Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Ireland, South Africa and South Korea.

In Jordan, a new NGO based on the F4P model has been established, working in partnership with the Scouts Association for the development of values-based coach education, and focusing upon relations between indigenous and refugee communities.

The Korean Sharing Movement has also developed a peace education programme based on the F4P values-based methodology of teaching values and life skills through sport and play.

Visit the Football4peace project page for more information.

Scroll through our fuller digital Peace through sport feature.

How does anti-racist activism by fans challenge racism and xenophobia in European football?

Racism and xenophobia continues to be expressed in European football stadiums. Many groups are working hard to fight racism at a grassroots level. This project was a comparative study of fan-groups in Warsaw, Dortmund and Rome who were trying to combat racism and was funded by the UEFA Research Grant Programme. By assessing different approaches from Eastern, Northern, and Southern Europe, this research sought to understand the different local cultures. More importantly, it looked at what recommendations could be learned from these diverse groups. The importance of institutional support, from federations to clubs is vital. Pan-European links are also important as groups share ideas and strategies. This socio-preventative fan work of engaging fans with other fans is potentially one of the most powerful ways to challenge racism in the stadium.

Redesigning tourism policy and practices in Africa

Our researchers have changed national tourism policy and workforce training practices in African countries. Working with international organisations, including the World Bank and UN agencies, the underpinning research has identified approaches for developing capacity and skills in the tourism workforce.

Our work in collaboration with the Nigerian Board of Technical Education (NBTE) resulted in the adoption of new industry and employment-centred leisure, tourism and hospitality teaching materials and national curriculum. The NBTE stated the impacts had spread beyond Nigeria: 'the tangible outcomes of the initiative have been accepted for adoption in the ECOWAS countries.... Other countries outside the region eg. Libya, Bahrain, Ethiopia, etc. have also benefitted from its achievement and have used the curricula developed as part of their own national curricula.'

Namibia Tourism Board introduced customer service skills training; government guidelines for ecotourism development were produced in West Africa. In the Gambia, the research led to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture developing service standards and establishing the €2.7m Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute.