Research
Department of Sport Pedagogy
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Mirko Schmidt, the department of Sport Pedagogy is concerned with the effects and modes of action of movement and sport in childhood and adolescence. Research focuses on the development of interventions to promote cognitive performance, personality development and body-related self-perception. Models of holistic school-based physical activity promotion are also of interest, as they enable evidence-based implementation and evaluation of school-based sport and physical activity programmes.
Mirko Schmidt
Physical activity leaders' workshops within the research project Active School
Four interactive transfer workshops were held last year as part of the research project Active School, and the intervention schools’ physical activity leaders participated. These workshops provide schools with scientific input for developing a sustainable school-wide physical activity concept and offer a wide range of opportunities for exchange and reflection on their own practice.
The physical activity leaders are committed to promoting physical activity in various areas of school life – in lessons, during extended breaks, or after school, within the framework of active programs. By combining newly acquired knowledge with collegial networking, they can increasingly implement innovative ideas and raise awareness among other teachers. Step by step, physical activity is thus no longer regarded merely as an addition to teaching, but as an integral part of everyday school life. In the long term, this commitment is expected to help embed physical activity as a permanent element of school culture, enabling students to benefit from a more active, healthier, and holistic learning environment. In addition to the effectiveness study, which is designed to provide scientific insights accompanying the implementation, the Active School project contributes significantly to the subject-specific professional development of teachers – initially in the Canton of Berne – particularly through such workshops.
Publications
Gasser, M., Nadenbousch, A.-M., Egger, F., Kamer, M., Valkanover, S., & Schmidt, M. (2024). Increasing adolescents’ physical activity levels through a comprehensive school-based physical activity program: Study protocol of the cluster randomized controlled trial. Active School. BMC Pediatrics, 24, Article 561. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05034-0
Gasser, M., Nadenbousch, A.-M., Egger, F., Kamer, M., Valkanover, S., & Schmidt, M. (2025). Physical activity behavior in Swiss secondary school students: A segmented analysis [Abstract]. Current Issues in Sport Science, 10(2), Article 036. https://doi.org/10.36950/2025.2ciss036
Fabienne Egger