Grand challenges as catalysts for the collaborative redesign of physical education, teacher education, and research and development

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the results of a specialized SWOT analysis. It introduces the specific grand challenge, including any special circumstances that the authors believed surrounded what they were being asked to do. All SWOT assessments yield important knowledge regarding the unique features and developmental trajectories of nations, world regions, states and provinces, and local contexts. The book explores alternative responses to the grand challenge. Diverse views are important because they reflect everyday reality. It deals with proposing a collaborative, relevant future research agenda, specific to the grand challenge, with the potential to impact Physical Education (PE) and Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) policy and practice internationally. School PE and companion PETE programmes in higher education in diverse parts of the world share an important developmental trajectory.