Hi, I’m Professor Ramón Spaaij of Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. I value the synergy students experience when I pose real-world problems to spark your curiosity. Let’s build your sociological toolkit together so you can better apply advance qualitative and mixed methodologies, concepts, and theories to your future professions.
We can ask better questions as we think critically to improve our understanding of complex issues like inequality, discrimination and social change together. I provide a safe space for my students and mentees to think outside the box as I supports them toward success.
Current Courses
My courses help students prepare for their future careers. Together we’ll build your ability to bring theory, concepts, and evidence to real world societal issues. Let’s learn to apply those concepts and address problems in your future careers.
Course: Social Dimensions of Sport and Exercise
About the course
Unit code: AHE3116 | Study level: Undergraduate
Students have the opportunity to investigate current social factors that have a bearing on participation in exercise and sport and its potential health benefits. Factors that may enhance participation or those that may be barriers include: age, gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability, socioeconomic status, religion and race/ethnicity. Professionals in the fields of teaching, coaching, exercise prescription and therapy, as well as management and policy-making need to be sensitive and responsive to participants, ‘clients’ or employees from a number of different cultural backgrounds, with their respective attitudes and beliefs about the body, male/female relations, etc.
Course: Foundations of Sport and Active Recreation
About the course
Unit code: SSM1102 | Study level: UndergraduateThis unit introduces students to the broad social, historical and cultural contexts in which sport and active recreation takes place. Research findings and theoretical concepts from history, sociology and cultural studies are used to help explain why some groups and individuals are excluded from, or marginalised through sport and active recreation. Students will undertake a series of learning activities which will enable them to identify and critique sport and recreation participation data and to deconstruct some common myths about Australian society. This unit also provides foundational knowledge and skills required in other units in the Sport Management courses.
Ramón Spaaij has supervised PhD students, masters students, and honors students as well as postdoctoral researchers.
“Ramón is an inspirational and engaging lecturer who goes out of his way to not only ensure that students understand the course concepts but that they really engage with the content in a real life setting.”
Robyn Smith, PhD student
“Dr. Ramón was one of my PhD supervisors whose supervision tremendously improved my skills and research outcomes in many ways.”
Dr. Yusuf Sheikh Omar
“I have experienced the extra lengths he goes to, to ensure the best student experience possible.“
Dr. Jonathan Robertson
Past Courses
View Victoria University courses
Sport Business Integrity Leadership, Master of Sport Business and Integrity (coordinator: A/Prof D. Hemphill). One module developed and taught: Critical Approaches to Sport Integrity Leadership.
Sociology of Sport and Active Recreation, 2nd year core, Bachelor of Sport Management: Developed, coordinated and taught.
Foundations of Sport and Active Recreation, 1st year core, Bachelor of Sport Management: Developed and team-taught.
Postgraduate Short Intensive Course on Ethnography: Developed, coordinated and taught.
Research and Evaluation in Sport and Recreation, 2nd year core, Bachelor of Sport Management: Developed, coordinated and taught.
Social Dimensions of Sport and Exercise, 3rd year core, Co-coordinated and team-taught.
Sport, Leisure and Society, 3rd year core, Co-coordinated and team-taught.
View University of Amsterdam course
Sport, Culture and Society, 4th year elective, Master of Sociology: Developed, coordinated and taught. Open to both university students and civil servants from the City of Amsterdam.
Sociological Research: Sports Fandom, 3rd year Master subject: Developed, coordinated and taught.
Contemporary Debates in Sociology, 3rd/4th year Master core subject: Developed, coordinated and team-taught.
View La Trobe University courses
Leadership and Teambuilding (Personal and Professional Skills Development), La Trobe MBA, La Trobe Business School: Developed, coordinated and taught [twice per academic year].
Sport, Culture & Society, 2nd/3rd year elective, Sociology and Anthropology Program: Developed and coordinated.
Social Research Methods, 2nd/3rd year core subject in Sociology. Three modules developed and taught.
Social Exclusion and Development, Master of International Development. Two modules developed and taught.
View The University of Melbourne course
Global Movements: Emerging Paradigms, 2nd/3rd year elective, Sociology Program: Developed, coordinated and taught.
View Utrecht University course
Participant Observation, Postgraduate Short Intensive Course, Utrecht School of Governance: Developed, coordinated and taught.
View State University of Campinas, Brazil course
Sociology of Sport, Honours & Master core subject, Faculty of Physical Education: Coordinated and co-taught.
View a sample syllabus from Global Sport, Culture, and Society.
“I value curiosity, which drives us to ask probing questions toward equity and social justice. Together we can make the world a better place, and drive curiosity to ask better questions.”
—Professor Ramón Spaaij
Ramón Spaaij 