Philippa Velija

Dr Philippa Velija

Head of Education and Sociology

Faculty of Sport, Health and Social Sciences

Room no. RM206

Biography

As Head of Subject, and Associate Professor in the Sociology of Sport, Philippa is responsible for strategic development of education and sociology courses, from foundation to master's.

After completing her PhD at Brunel University in 2007, Philippa worked at York St John University as Head of Programme for Sport Education and Development. In this role she led the team to develop a number of new programmes in physical education and youth sport, and sport development and coaching. During her time at York St John, Philippa was also part of the unit for child and youth studies, a multidisciplinary research group focused on understanding a range of issues in child and youth studies. 

Philippa has taught a number of modules focusing on the sociology of sport, including introduction to sociology of sport, sport and sociological theories, sport policy, sport and the body and gender in sport. In addition, she has led the dissertation module for undergraduate students and co-delivered research methods modules for sport students. She is committed to working with students to help them develop an understand issues of equity and diversity in sport and adopting sociological theories to understanding complex issues in sport are issues. Philippa's approach to teaching is to adopt a research informed teaching approach, by embedding this as part of the curriculum.

Taught courses

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BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Physical Education (Top-up)
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BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology
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BA (Hons) Physical Education
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MA Sport Management
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MA Sport Development
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MA Physical Education and School Sport

Further information

  1. Recent publications

    Philippa has written and contributed to a number of articles and journals. Follow the link below to find out more.

    Velija, P. and Silvani, L., 2020. Print Media Narratives of Bullying and Harassment at the Football Association: A Case Study of Eniola Aluko. Journal of Sport and Social Issues,.

    Powis, B. and Velija, P., (2020). Cricket has no boundaries with NatWest? The hyperreality of inclusion and diversity in English cricket. Sport in Society, pp.1-16.

    Velija, P., & Malcolm, D. (2020). Covid-19, Exercise and bodily self-control. sociologia del delporte, 1(1), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.46661/socioldeporte.5011

    Velija, P (2019) ‘Sport and Physical Activity in Post-Communist Albania’ in Sport, Statehood and Transition in Europe: Comparative perspectives from post-Soviet and post-socialist societies in Press

    Velija, P. (2019) Gender and Sexual Relations in British Sports Broadcasting: Beyond Clare Balding in Magrath LBGT Athletes in Sports Media London: Palgrave 

    Velija, P (2019) ‘Gender and Leadership in English Cricket:  A Case Study of the Women’s Cricket Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board’ in Gender diversity in European sport leadership: progress and stagnation. London: Routledge

    Mierzwinski, M & Velija P. (2019) Figurational sociology and masculine embodiment in Male Physical Education in Handbook of Sport and Masculinity. London: Routledge.

    Velija, P. (2015) Women’s Cricket and Global Processes: The Emergence and Development of Womens Cricket as a Global Game. Palgrave Macmillian

    Malcolm, D. and Velija, P. (2018) Figurational Research in Sport, Leisure and Health, London: Routledge

     Malcolm, D and Velija, P., (2017). Cricket: the quintessential English game?. In Gibbons, T. and Malcolm, D. (eds.) Sport and English National Identity in a ‘Disunited Kingdom’. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 19 - 33.

    Velija, P with Mansfield, L. (2017). ‘The UK House of Commons Women and Sport Report 2014-2015: Policy, Evidence and Impact’, in (eds) Mansfield, L., Caudwell, J., Wheaton, B., and Watson, R. The Palgrave Handbook of Feminism and Sport, Leisure and Physical Education. Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Velija, P. (2015) Women’s Cricket and Global Processes: The Emergence and Development of Womens Cricket as a Global Game. Palgrave Macmillian

  2. Research interests

    Philippa's research contributes to the academic area of the sociology of sport and focuses on issues of social justice, but more specifically on gender relations in sport.

    Philippa has been research active in the area of sociology of sport, contributing to the recent REF. Recently, her research has focused on the production of a sole authored book with Palgrave published in 2015 entitled Women’s Cricket and Global Processes: The Emergence and Development of Women’s Cricket as a Global Game. 

    She has published in several peer reviewed journals, including International Review for Sociology of Sport, Sociology of Sport Journal, developing a strong research profile focusing on issues of gender relations in sport, including women’s cricket, horse racing, MMA, girls and Physical Education and Sport.

    She is currently supervising a PhD on civilising processes, physical education and masculine identities. 

  3. Work in progress

    Philippa has recently presented at the BSA conference on lad culture in university sport. She is also working on a project with a colleague at Northumbria University looking at the commercialisation of toddler sport. Philippa supervises PhDs Peer Relations in Male Physical Education, Social Entrepreneurship in Sport Development, and Growth Mindset in PE.