Dr Meijun Qu

Thesis title: Life Skills Development and Transfer Through School-Based Outdoor Learning in Scotland: A Mixed-Methods Comparison of Discrete and Curriculum-Embedded Models

Biography

Background

Meijun Qu is a researcher in physical education, outdoor learning, sport, and youth development. She has recently completed her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, where her research examined how outdoor learning can support the development and transfer of life skills in adolescents. Her doctoral work has involved longitudinal, mixed-methods, and school-based research in collaboration with schools in Scotland. Her wider research interests include positive youth development, life skills, outdoor education, physical education, coach education, training planning, and applied sport science. She is particularly interested in how educational and sporting environments can be designed to support young people’s personal and social development over time. Alongside her academic work, Meijun has a strong applied sport background. She is a former professional table tennis player and previously served as the Coach of the Scotland Women’s National Table Tennis Team. Her experience as both an athlete and coach informs her research interests in coaching practice, athlete development, training methodology, and the psychological and social dimensions of sport.

Qualifications

BEd (Hons) Sports & Athletic Training (Wuhan Sports University, College of Sports & Athletic Training)

MSc Strength & Conditioning (University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education and Sport)

PhD in Physical Education / Education and Sport (University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education and Sport)

Research summary

  • Outdoor Learning
  • Life skills development
  • S&C 

Examples of recent conference:

  • 2024 International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP). The impact of a 12-day outdoor learning project on life skills development in adolescents in Scotland. Jyväskylä, 13-18 May.
  • 2024 International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP). Exploring adolescents perceptions on the impact of 12-day outdoor learning projects on life skills development in Scotland. Jyväskylä, 13-17 May.
  • 2025 International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP). Impact of a 12-day outdoor learning project on life skills in adolescents in Scotland: retention at 6 and 18-monthsImpact of a 12-day outdoor learning project on life skills in adolescents in Scotland: retention at 6 and 18-months. University of South Florida, USA.

Knowledge exchange

Peer-reviewed publications

  • Anyadike-Danes, K., Qu, M., & Donath, L. (2026). Chinese coaches’ perceptions of non-physical factors in training adaptation: A multicausal, cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2026.03.013
  • Qu, M., Buchanan, N., Martindale, R., Cronin, L., & Sproule, J. (2026). The impact of a 12-day outdoor learning project on life skills development in adolescents in Scotland. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 26(1), 180–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2024.2447749
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