BSc, Mphil, PhD

Profile

Currently a member of the Physical Activity Sport and Education (PHASE) research group, Symeon has been working in the School of Education since 2002. Previously he was a lecturer at the University of Greenwich. His first degree was a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science in Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. He completed his PhD studies at the university of Exeter in 2002. Symeon has established a research profile on issues related to multiple disadvantaged and adolescents’ participation in PE and Physical Activity Settings. His main research interests include ethnicity, social class and sport/PE/ physical activity participation.

Research interests

• Muslim girls PE, Sport & physical activity
• Ethnicity the body and PE, Sport and physical activity participation
• Social class the body and physical activity
• Interplay of ethnicity, race, gender and social class in PE, Sport and Physical activity
• Environmental and psycho-social determinants and adolescents’ participation in physical activity settings
• Cross-cultural research  (mainly Europe & UK)
• Adolescents’ and religion, culture and the family in PE, Sport and physical activity

Projects

• BASS project (Birmingham Advisory Support Services), 2007 - 2008 ‘Improving inclusion of Muslim girls in physical education’, outcome - Guidance to schools, launched November 3rd 2008: Research Consultant
• Family structure as a determinant to adolescents’ participation in physical activity (07-present): research supervisor
• Intersectionality of Ethnicity and Social Class on adolescent’s participation in physical activity settings (08- present): Research Leader Evaluation of the ‘School’s on the Move’ project (2004-05): Research Consultant

Teaching and administration responsibilities

Symeon lectures on the School’s BA Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Sciences degree; BA Applied Golf Management Studies ; MPhil (B) in Sports Coaching; and Mphil (B) in Dance. More specifically his teaching responsibilities include the following:

• Physical Activity and Well being (Level 3- Module Leader)
• Teaching and Coaching of Swimming (Level 3- Module Leader)
• Research Methods in Sporting Context (Level 2- Module Leader)
• Dissertation supervisor (Level 3- Module Leader)
• Placement supervisor (Level 2)
• Introduction to Research (Level 1- Module Leader)

In addition Symeon teachers in two Postgraduate programmes: Mphil B in Coaching (Research methods) and Mphil B in Dance (Sociology & Research methods)

Administrative responsibilities

Programme Leader for SPECS; BA Sport PE and Coaching Sciences; Director of PHASE research group (Physical Activity, Sport and Education); Admission tutor for SPECS and former Academic Group Manager of KCD research group (Knowledge, Culture and Diversity)

Other professional appointments

Member of  BERA;  AIESEP; AfPE and  ISSP

Publications (selection)

Dagkas, S., Benn, T. & Jawad, H. (In Press) Multiple Voices: Improving participation of Muslim Girls in Physical Education and School Sport, Sport, Education and Society

Quarmby, T., & Dagkas, S., (2010) Children's engagement in leisure time physical activity; Exploring family structure as a determinant, Leisure Studies

Benn, T., Dagkas, S., & Jawad, H. (In Press) Embodied faith: Islam, religious freedom and educational practices in physical education, Sport, Education and Society

Dagkas, S. & Benn, T.C. (2006), Young Muslim Women’s experiences of Islam and Physical Education in Greece and Britain: A Comparative Study, Sport Education and Society, 11(1), 21-38

Dagkas, S. (2007), Exploring Teaching Practices in Physical Education with Culturally Diverse Classes: A Cross- Cultural Study, European Journal of Teacher Education, 30(4), 431-443

Bailey, R., & Dagkas, S., (Eds, forthcoming). Inclusion and Exclusion in Youth Sport. London: Routledge