Impact of Active Methodologies in Higher Education in the Field of Sports Science and Physical Education: A Systematic Review

Nowadays, the use of active methodologies in higher education has become increasingly important, particularly in fields such as sports science and physical education, as they place students at the centre of the teaching and learning process. The aim of this review is to analyze the impact of active methodologies on learning aspects and educational variables among students of physical education and sports sciences in higher education. The guidelines set out in the PRISMA statement were followed, with a search conducted on the Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed and Dialnet databases, analyzing studies published between 1 January 2021 and 31 May 2026. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261387580). The selection and assessment of the methodological quality of the chosen articles were carried out using standardized tools. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The results highlighted that pedagogical approaches such as service learning, the flipped classroom, cooperative learning, and gamification, amongst others, had a positive impact on students’ social, motivational, procedural and cognitive development, and that technological support is increasingly being used in conjunction with these pedagogical models. In conclusion, active methodologies are an effective strategy in higher education within the field of sport, although their positive impact can only be maximized through rigorous and context specific pedagogical application.