Per Nilsson

Per Nilsson is the Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH) and holds the academic rank of Professor of Pedagogy. Previously, he served as Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish School of Sport Sciences in Stockholm, Director General of the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs, and Vice-Chancellor of Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College. His research focuses on sport as an educational and cultural environment, the role of leisure in youth identity, and the significance of the body in modern society. Key publications include Competitive Sports as an Educational Environment, Football and Morals, and The Speech on the Body (co-authored with Birgitta Fagrell).

Dr. Nilsson is actively engaged in academic leadership, serving on boards such as the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) and chairs the Committee for the Promotion of Increased Physical Activity. He has contributed to Swedish football governance through roles in the Stockholm Football Association’s Scientific Council and the Swedish Football Association’s Medical Committee. His collaborations extend to governmental health equity initiatives and academic forums.

His teaching spans pedagogy, sports science, and social sciences, with a focus on leadership and ethics. Beyond academia, Nilsson maintains an active sports lifestyle, including downhill skiing, tennis, and a background in volleyball and youth football coaching.