Ilka Staub

Dr. Ilka Staub is a researcher at the German Sport University Cologne within the Institute of Professional Sport Education and Sport Qualifications, Section Didactics and Methodology in Sports. With expertise spanning swimming education, aquatic literacy, and sports methodology, her work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in educational settings across school, extracurricular, and competitive swimming contexts.

Her research interests encompass comprehensive aquatic education frameworks:

• Didactic and methodological aspects of swimming education across diverse settings
• Qualification requirements for aquatic educators and competency development
• Long-term athletic development pathways in competitive swimming
• Analysis of career trajectories, relative age effects, and sport initiation timing
• Development of assessment tools for aquatic skills and water safety

Dr. Staub's publication portfolio demonstrates a cohesive focus on evidence-based frameworks for aquatic education. Her recent work emphasizes ecosystem approaches to curriculum development, competency-based assessment systems, and strategies for improving long-term engagement in aquatic activities. The research consistently addresses practical implementation challenges while maintaining scientific rigor, with strong emphasis on translating findings into educator training programs.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards:

• Auszeichnung für besonders gute Lehre an der DSHS Köln (2022)
• DAAD Kongress-Stipendium (2019, 2023)
• Lehrpreis: Kategorie Übungen und Praxiskurse (2018)
• Reisestipendien zur Förderung des weiblichen wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses (2014)

Dr. Staub leads multiple significant research initiatives including EuViS (developing diagnostic assessment tools for swimming education), ALFAC (Aquatic Literacy For All Children), and long-term studies on basic aquatic skills assessment. Her collaborative network spans European institutions, with particularly strong partnerships with Tobias Vogt (56 shared publications) and Inga Fokken (20 shared publications), reflecting her central role in advancing aquatic education research across international boundaries.