Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres, professor and researcher at the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), has been appointed by the Board as coordinator of the Doctorate in Physical Activity and Sport: Risks and Benefits.
This doctorate, endorsed by the Agencia National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación, ANECA) and officially published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE), is the first of its kind in the Autonomous Community, focusing on physical activity and sport and oriented towards research in this area of knowledge.
Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres, with an outstanding academic background that includes a Doctorate in Health Projects, a Master’s Degree in Prevention and Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol), a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Teacher Training, and a Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from the Pontifical University of Salamanca, among other achievements, has built a solid professional and academic career.
As a scientific researcher, he has contributed significantly to the field, authoring numerous scientific articles and books. His role as Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal MLS Sport Research, as well as his active participation in international congresses and scientific committees, demonstrate his commitment to the creation of knowledge. In addition, he has given numerous international conferences and lectures and has made international stays at universities in several countries.
Objectives and importance of the Doctorate
The Doctorate in Physical Activity and Sport, under the coordination of Dr. Velarde, aims to train highly qualified professionals for research in the field, both in institutes or research centers and in high performance sports centers, R&D centers related to the area, or in departments of sport or public health. Likewise, the purpose of this program is to enable the completion of a quality doctoral thesis.
On the other hand, the relevance of the Doctorate is reflected in its capacity to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences in academic and scientific fields. Graduates are expected to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, technology, and research and innovation methodologies in the field of physical activity and sport.
In the words of Dr. Velarde, “The development of a Doctoral Program is a process that enriches you with knowledge and makes you grow as a person and a professional.” It is expected that this program will become a reference, providing new knowledge and scientific advances to address the challenges that contemporary society is facing, with researchers trained and qualified to meet these challenges.