Riding towards a career in research
Lovisa Broms grew up on horseback. When the time came to step down, it felt natural for her to use her experience of equestrian sport in her future work. Today, her interest is moving towards research, and there is no more important time to study sports science than now.
Alongside her studies at Malmö University, Lovisa also works as a project manager and administrator at Flyinge AB, a horse centre focused on equestrian sport.
"I began my studies in sport science at a bachelor’s level after having worked with horses and horse-riding abroad for a while. It was important to me that I could use my background in sports in my education.
"I chose to continue my studies at a master’s level because of my interest in research. It became clear to me that there is a lack of knowledge of equestrian sport from a social science perspective. I also find that higher education has really given me an advantage in the labour market.”
“To study an international programme is a huge benefit”
During her studies, Lovisa and one of her classmates attended the European Association for Sport Management Conference (ESAM) in Bern, Switzerland. In 2018, the conference will be hosted by Malmö University.
“International context is important in sport science since it’s quite a small field. It’s important to have an international perspective, talk to people with different backgrounds and exchange experiences.
“English is the dominant language in international collaborations, so to study an international programme at an advanced level is a huge benefit, as you get the language with you from the get-go.”
Keeping up with societal changes
Lovisa emphasises that her master’s studies have allowed her to develop a critical approach and analytical proficiency — skills she hopes to apply in a future career as a researcher. With societal changes affecting most research fields, sport science is no exception.
“There is a lot happening right now in the world of sports. For example, if you look at the relationship between the history of non-profit work in the Nordic countries and the professionalisation and the commercialisation processes going on in Europe and America. I think it’s important to keep up with these developments, and people with an education in sports science have a lot to contribute in this regard.”
