Juan Fernández-Prados Sebastián

Juan Sebastián Fernández Prados is a Full Professor of Sociology at the University of Almería, Spain. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy (1989) and Sociology (1993) from the University of Granada, as well as a Ph.D. in Sociology from the National University of Distance Education (UNED), with a dissertation entitled "Civil Society and Social Change: The Political Culture of Volunteering" (2001). Over three decades, he has shown his dedication to academia through his teaching roles in Master's programs in Migration Studies, Development and Social Intervention, and Social Communication at the University of Almería. Since 2022, he has reached a significant milestone in his career by becoming a Full Professor of Sociology, a recognition marked by six quinquennial teaching awards.

His research work is structured around three main areas, each endorsed by three official research periods (sexenios). His first line of research focuses on social research methodology, with foundational works such as "Manual para Encuestadores" (1996, Ariel Publishing) and "Investigar mediante Encuesta" (1998, Síntesis Publishing), along with articles published in prestigious journals such as REIS, Field Methods, and Metodología de Encuestas. His second research area explores volunteering and social participation, producing influential works like "Voluntariado y Participación Social: Un Caso Universitario" (2004) and key chapters such as "Participación Social y Asociacionismo Andaluz en el Marco de Europa y la Teoría del Capital Social" (2005). His third focus is on migration processes, contributing to numerous projects and notable publications such as "Xenophobia in Andalusia" (2012) and analyses on attitudes toward Moroccan immigrants in Andalusia (2014).

Additionally, Fernández Prados has led significant projects such as "Online Civic Culture: Theory and Measurement" (2010-2012) and a telematic research laboratory funded by FEDER (2008-2010). He has held editorial positions with journals like the Journal of the Sociology of Education Association (2012-2015) and the Survey Methodology International Journal, and currently serves on the editorial boards of the CIS methodological collection and the International Journal of Migration Studies (RIEM). His administrative contributions include serving as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Education and Director of the Secretariat for Volunteering and Cooperation. He is currently the President of the Sociological Association of Andalusia, underscoring his leadership within and beyond the academic community.