Sport educator Josef Fahlén

Josef Fahlén teaches in the Sports Science programme, specialising in strategic leadership and development.

ImageMattias Pettersson

Josef Fahlén began teaching during his doctoral studies. After receiving his doctorate, he applied for an associate professor position. Now a professor, Josef combines teaching with other duties. 

Josef teaches in the Sports Science Programme, with a focus on strategic leadership and development, in sport education courses like Strategic Governance, Organisation, and Leadership in Sport. He also teaches in the Master's Programme in Leadership and Organisation, in the Coaching Programme and in the department's doctoral education.

What is the best part of teaching?

“The best thing about teaching is meeting young, enthusiastic and driven people who want to develop. It also lets me gain insight into the current issues in our subject area," says Josef.

Josef finds that Umeå University is a great place to work. He has taught elsewhere, which puts into perspective the fantastic resources that teachers and students at Umeå University have in the form of libraries, learning platforms, study support and administrative support.

"Teaching at a university is also a great way for me, as a researcher, to share the knowledge I create with society at large. It also gives me the chance to test research ideas, theories and explanations on a group that is familiar with the topics I study," says Josef.

"Old-fashioned by today's standards"

Joseph describes himself as an old-fashioned teacher by today's standards. He often gives traditional lectures, where he reviews the core content of the course. But he also often works with group exercises, roleplaying, and panel discussions to try to reproduce situations that students will face in their future professional lives.

"For me, it is important that students speak up. That's why I pose plenty of questions during my lectures, so that we can think, reason and discuss, for example, different ways of understanding current phenomena," explains Josef.

What advice would you give to someone considering starting university?

“Be sure to put in a full day’s work, every day of the working week, and you’ll do great. Read all the course literature, and discuss with fellow students whatever is difficult to understand. But don't forget to have fun. Most of us are only students once,” says Josef.