Dr Kola Adeosun
PhD, FHEA

Senior Lecturer

School of Health and Sport

Room no. RM204c

Biography

Kola Adeosun is a Senior Lecturer and Social Science Chair of Ethics in the Department of Sport and Health at Southampton Solent University. As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Kola brings extensive teaching and research experience across diverse topics within sport, geopolitics, and social sciences. His expertise includes globalisation, social movements, sociological perspectives, development theories, and research methods.

At postgraduate level, he contributes to the football Master’s programme, teaching the Player Care module, and supervises MRes and PhD students on a range of topics related to sport, geopolitics and social issues.

Kola’s research focuses on two main areas:

The geopolitics of sport which explores the relationship between nation states, athletes, soft power, diplomacy, and the governance of sport.
Player care which investigates how elite athletes are supported before, during, and after their professional careers.

He regularly presents his research at national and international conferences, reflecting his commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing to global debates.

Beyond academia, Kola has extensive experience in sport and development across Africa, the UK, the Caribbean, Asia, and the USA. He has worked as a coach, researcher, development officer, and consultant, bringing valuable practical insights to his academic work.

Pure profile

View Kola's profile on Pure

Further information

Kola brings a wealth of industry experience, ranging from roles as a community coach to positions in sport development across the UK, USA, and Nigeria, as well as broader development work throughout Africa.

Kola’s research explores the dynamic intersection of sport and society. His recent work has focused on contemporary crises and how sport politically positions individuals, organisations, and state actors.

His latest paper, “Through the Athletes’ Lens: Perspectives on Competing at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Amidst the Ukraine-Russia Conflict,” investigates the views of Olympians and Paralympians on competing with or against Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Paris Games.

Kola’s recent contributions include peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and presentations at international conferences. His work continues to bridge academic inquiry with practical applications in the field of sport and society.

Peer-reviewed journals

Adeosun, K., (Accepted in Press ), Through the Athletes Lens: Perspectives on Competing at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympics Amidst the Ukraine-Russia Conflict, The International Journal of Sport Politics and Policy.

Adeosun, K., 2024, A Freirean Understanding of The Venezuelan Crisis in Trinidad and Tobago, Community Development Journal.

Nunes, N.A., G.H., Petiot, K., Adeosun, 2024, The Spatiality of the Body in Football, Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11 (2), pp. 460-470.

Adeosun, K., 2023, The Radicality and Cultural Significance of the Sweats in Trinidad and Tobago, Leisure Studies.

Rookwood, J., K., Adeosun, 2021, Nation branding and public diplomacy: Examining Japan’s 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games in the midst of a global economic downturn, Journal of Global Sport Management, 8 (3).

Szerovay, M., K., Adeosun, 2020, Living in a lockdown: An Opportunity to Enhance Physical Activities? European Sociological Association, 2 (46), https://www.europeansociologist.org/issue-46-pandemic-impossibilities-vol-2/life-health-death-living-lockdown-opportunity-enhance

Mwaanga, O., K., Adeosun, 2019, Reconceptualising Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), from a Critical Reconsideration of Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela’s View of Sport, Sport in Society: Culture, Commerce, Media, Politics, 23 (5).

Mwaanga, O., K., Adeosun, 2017, Examining the Efficacy of the Kicking Aids Out Programme in Jamaica, Journal of Sport-for-Development, 5 (9).

International conferences

The International Institute for Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership’s 13th Annual Congress in Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia, 2023 – Presenting – Adeosun K, The Radicality and Cultural Significance of the Sweats in Trinidad and Tobago

The International Institute for Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership’s 12th Annual Congress in Universidade da Coruna, Spain, 2022 – Presenting - Adeosun, K., Investigating the Application of Freirean Principles in Sport-for-Development and Peace Programmes: A Case Study of the Caribbean Sport Development Agency

World Congress of Sociology of Sport, Virtual Presentation - Adeosun, K., 2021, Nation branding and public diplomacy: Examining Japan’s Acquisition of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games

World Congress of Sociology of Sport in the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2019 – Presenting - Adeosun, K., Investigating the Application of Freirean Principles in Sport-for-Development and Peace Programmes: A Case Study of the Caribbean Sport Development Agency

World Congress of Sociology of Sport in the National Taiwan Sport University, Taiwan, 2017 - Presenting - Mwaanga, O., K., Adeosun, Reconceptualising Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), from a Critical Reconsideration of Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela’s View of Sport

2^nd Biennial Conference, Sport Studies and Higher Education in the University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, 2016, – Presenting - Mwaanga, O., K., Adeosun, Examining the Efficacy of the Kicking Aids Out Programme in Jamaica

Caribbean Regional Sport and Development Conference in University of West Indies, Jamaica, 2015 – Presenting - Mwaanga, O., K., Adeosun, Examining the Efficacy of the Kicking Aids Out Programme in Jamaica

Taught courses

BA (Hons) Sociology

An exciting subject, sociology challenges the world in which we live, including politics, media and social inequality. Get practical experience to work in public and private sectors.

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BSc (Hons) Football Studies

The course is designed and tailored for individuals passionate about football and enthusiastic to learn from the game to reach their aspirations to work within it.

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BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education

Gain real-world skills, knowledge and experience, to prepare you for an impactful career in sports coaching and physical education.

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BSc (Hons) Sport and Leisure Business Management

This challenging and professional course delivers all the skills you’ll need to start, develop and succeed in a career in sport and leisure management.

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