As Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, I am very pleased to see our ranking of 41st in the world in the 2026 QS World University Rankings for sports-related subjects.
While rankings are only one measure, this recognition is meaningful because it reflects the regard in which our work is held by the international academic community. For us, it is an affirmation of the sustained commitment of our staff, researchers, students, and professional colleagues, all of whom contribute to the strength of the department in different ways.
I am particularly grateful to everyone who helps make PESS such a vibrant and thoughtful academic community. This recognition reflects the quality of our teaching, the significance of our research, and the many collaborations and relationships that support our work locally, nationally, and internationally.
It is a moment to acknowledge and thank those who contribute to the department every day. We are very appreciative of this recognition and encouraged by what it says about the standing of our subject on the world stage.
Dr John Perry is the Head of the Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, University of Limerick. Over the past 20 years, he has combined academic work with applied practice, publishing widely on mental toughness, stress, performance, and psychological assessment, while also working with elite performers in sport. He is the author of books on sport psychology and on mental toughness, which have collectively sold more than 50,000 copies worldwide.
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