Prof Dr Ayça Polat
Professorship of Social Pedagogy in the Migration Society
Ayça Polat has held the professorship for Social Pedagogy in the Migration Society since the winter semester 2023/24 and is Head of the Centre for Migration, Education and Cultural Studies .
Curriculum vitae
- 1992-1999: Degree in Education (Intercultural) and Social Sciences, University of Oldenburg
- 2005: Doctorate at the C. v. O. University of Oldenburg on the topic "Between integration and marginalisation - living conditions of second-generation Turkish migrants"
- 2007: Creation of an integration concept for the city of Mühlheim a. d. Ruhr
- 05-08/2005: Fellowship at the "Centre for Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies", University of Toronto/Canada
- 09/2005-05/2008: Teaching staff for special tasks at the Institute for Sociology, C. v. O. University of Oldenburg
- 05/2008-02/2015: Integration Unit (Integration Officer), City of Oldenburg
- 03/2015: Call to the University of Applied Sciences Kiel, Denomination Interculturality and Migration in Social Work
- 05/2022: Cumulative habilitation thesis at the C. v. O. University of Oldenburg on "Practices and forms of 'doing difference' and 'doing recognition' - Reflection bases for social and educational work in the migration society".
- 03/2022: Call to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, denomination "Social Work in the Context of Social Diversity"
- 01.10.2023: Call to the University of Oldenburg, denomination "Social Pedagogy in the Migration Society"
Work and research focus
- Theories and approaches to criticism of racism and diversity awareness
- Migration pedagogy and critical migration research
- Social inequalities
- Participation and conviviality
Publications since 2017 (selection)
Collected volumes:
- "Migration und Soziale Arbeit Wissen, Haltung, Handlung" (editor), textbook in the series "Grundwissen Soziale Arbeit", Volume 14, 2025, Verlag Kohlhammer.
- "Alltagsrassismus - Herausforderungen für die soziale und pädagogische Arbeit in der Migrationsgesellschaft" (editor together with Abigail Joseph-Magwood), textbook in the series "Grundwissen Soziale Arbeit", Verlag Kohlhammer
Contributions to anthologies and journals:
- "'Good' and 'bad' refugees in the German migration discourse". In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit" for the thematic issue on "Diversity of Migration" 1/2025, pp. 29-40.
- "Plurality, understanding of democracy and social media in the lifeworlds of young people". In: Youth Welfare, Issue 4/2025, Vol. 63, pp. 349-354.
- "School as a social space in the social space". In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit" for the special issue on "Stadtgesellschaft" 4/2024, pp. 322-329.
- "Perspektiven kritischer Migrationsforschung als Reflexionsgrundlagen für soziale und pädagogische Handlungsfelder" (together with P. Mecheril). In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit", issue 3/2024, pp. 221-228.
- Everyday racism in healthcare - Experiences of people with "low literacy" in the healthcare system (together with Heyrock, M., Knudsen, H. & Thege, B.). In: Polat, Joseph-Magwood, A. (2024): Everyday racism - challenges for social and educational work in the migration society" Textbook in the series "Grundwissen Soziale Arbeit", Verlag Kohlhammer, pp. 114-124.
- Racism and discrimination at universities. Results of a survey among students and staff (together with Abigail M. Joseph-Magwood). In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit", special issue "Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt", issue 1/24, pp. 48-55.
- Social work in the migration society - its (possible) contribution to participation and equal opportunities. In: Gesemann, Frank/Filsinger, Dieter/Münch, Sybille (2024): Handbuch Lokale Integrationspolitik. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien, 2nd edition, pp. 1-15.
- "Diversity and discrimination at universities - an exemplary consideration of discrimination and affiliation relationships" (together with Britta Thege). In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit", special issue "Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt", issue 2/23, pp. 117-124
- "So boys, now make an effort, if even Anna knows the answer" - On the social and economic power of sexist and racist stereotypes (together with L. Chougourou), In: Welpe, I. & Thege, B. (eds.) (2023): The stereotypical society, Berlin: Peter Lang Verlag, pp. 39-67.
- "Urban Citizenship as a Response to National Demarcation Policies? Municipal options for shaping participation". In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit", for the special issue on "Border regimes" 3/2022, pp. 228-235
- "Health competences of people with 'low literacy' - becoming a subject and stigma management in the context of 'Doing Inability'" (together with Merle Heyrock & Britta Thege). In: Journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit", for the special issue on "Health" 4/2022, pp. 326-333
- "Through training to academic appointment?" - On the social reproduction of the economic 'usefulness paradigm' in educational programmes for young refugees" (together with Lena A. Nzume). In: Kollender, Ellen/Kourabas, Veronika & Niels Uhlendorf: Journal for Diversity Research and Management, Issue 2/2022, pp. 175-187.
- "Migration and mental health". In: Röh, Dieter/Schreieder, Elisabeth (eds.): "Sozialpsychiatrie als Handlungsfeld der Soziale Arbeit", textbook in the series "Grundwissen Soziale Arbeit", Verlag Kohlhammer, pp. 182-197
- "Doing belonging and social coherence - Discourses of belonging in Canada and their influence on social cohesion. In: Christou, Theodore/Kruschel, Robert/ Merz-Atalik, Kerstin (ed.): "Inclusive Education in Canada: European & comparative perspectives on educational cultures, structures and practices". Routhledge Publishing, pp. 35-48
- "Von "Sprachdefiziten" und anderen Mythen - Praxen der Herstellung von Differenz in Einrichtungen der Elementarpädagogik" (together with Bedia Akbaş). In: Akbaba, Yalız/Bello, Bettina/Fereidooni, Karim (eds.): Pädagogische Professionalität und Migrationsdiskurse, Springer VS Verlag, pp. 149-166
- "Doing Poverty by doing ethnicity: Migration as a subject of poverty research". In: Marquardsen, Kai (ed.): Poverty Research. Handbook for Science and Practice, Nomos Verlag, pp. 189-201
- Review by: Marc Grimm / Sandra Schlupp (eds.): Flight and School. Challenges of the migration movement in the school context. Weinheim Basel: Beltz Juventa 2018. in: EWR 20 (2021), No. 1 (January/February)
- "Intersectional perspectives as an opportunity for social work in research, theory and practice" (together with Doreen Müller). In: Biele Mefebue, Astrid V., Bührmann, Andrea D., Sabine Grenz (eds.) 2020, Handbook Intersectionality. Springer publishing house, pp. 381-395
- "I don't have the feeling that I have more intercultural competence now." - Teaching migration education between expectations and demands. In: Kergel, David /Heidkamp, Birte (eds.) 2019: "Praxishandbuch Habitussensibilität und Diversität in der Hochschullehre", Springer Verlag, pp. 445-457
- "Doing belonging and social coherence - Discourses of belonging in Canada and their influence on social cohesion and inclusion". In: Jahr, David/Kruschel, Robert (eds.) 2019: "Inclusion in Canada - Perspectives on cultures, structures and practices, Beltz Verlag, pp. 30-46
- 'Right' (socio-)educational research in 'wrong' circumstances? From migration research as integration research to migration research as critique (together with Paul Mecheril). In: Klomann, Verena/ Frieters-Reermann, Norbert/ Genenger-Stricker, Marianne/ Sylla, Nadine (eds.) 2018: "Forschung im Kontext von Bildung und Migration. Critical reflections on methodology, thought logics and power relations in research processes", Springer Verlag, pp. 47-61
- "Interkulturelle Öffnung und Diversity Mainstreaming als kommunaler Handlungsauftrag". In: Gestring, Norbert/Werhheim, Jan (eds.) 2018: Urbanity in the 21st century, Campus Verlag, pp. 275-293
- "From intercultural opening to diversity awareness - challenges in regular healthcare services." In: Schödwell, Steffen/Steinhäuser, Theresa (eds.) 2018: "'Every client is unique, migrants and refugees are different?' - Pathways to the psychotherapeutic treatment of people with a migration background in mainstream care", specialist journal "Verhaltenstherapie & psychosoziale Praxis" (VPP), 4/18, pp. 4-32
- "Pedagogical action in the migration society - intercultural competence in social work" In: Sozialpädagogische Impulse, 2/2017, p. 16-18
Internet publications: - Contribution to the socialnet encyclopaedia on "Migration". URL: https://www.socialnet.de/lexikon/Migration
Articles in anthologies and journals before 2017 - "Diversity in the classroom - the policy decree "Integration and promotion of pupils with a non-German language of origin" as an instrument for creating equal opportunities". With Wieland Herold and Sabine Stehno. In: Lindemann, Holger (ed.): Wir machen Schule. Inclusion at Oldenburg schools. Weinheim: Beltz-Juventa, 2014, 34-45.
- "Migrationshintergrund und Berufsorientierung" and "Aktivierende Elternarbeit". With Rudolf Schröder. In: Schröder, Rudolf et al. (eds.): Berufs- und Studienorientierung in Niedersachsen. Structures - Concepts - Partners - Assistance. Publicly available at: www.berufsorientierung-niedersachsen.de.
- Reviewed by Hartmut M. Griese on 04/02/2011. In: socialnet Rezensionen, ISSN 2190-9245, www.socialnet.de/rezensionen/10128.php, date of access 08/10/2013.
- "Who is an Oldenburger? Affiliation of immigrants from an Oldenburg perspective". In: Bertelsmann Foundation (ed.): Who belongs? Belonging as a prerequisite for integration. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Foundation Publishing House, 2011, 227-236
- "Integration policy in municipalities: Between vision and reality". In: Stemmler, Susanne (ed.): Multikultur 2.0. Willkommen im Einwanderungsland Deutschland. Göttingen: Wallstein Verlag, 2011, 231-237
- "Municipal integration policy. How can everyday political life be organised?" together with Bedia Akbas. In: "Migration and everyday life. Our reality is different". Edited with Dirk Lange. Schwalbach: Wochenschau Verlag, 2010, 126-138
- "Migration and everyday life. Our reality is different". Editor with Dirk Lange. Schwalbach: Wochenschau Verlag, 2010
- "On the causes and consequences of social and ethnic segregation at primary schools". In : Hillmann, Felicitas/Windzio, Michael (eds.): Migration und städtischer Raum. Opportunities and risks of segregation and integration. Opladen&Farmington Hills: Budrich UniPress, 2008, 91-100
- "Multiculturalism and educational equality in Canada - a model for migration policy education in Germany?". In: Lange, Dirk (ed.): Migration und Bürgerbewusstsein. Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag, 2008, 185-202
- "Immigration Perspectives - Integration Opportunities in Germany and Canada". In: Andersen, Uwe/Breit, Gotthard/Massing, Peter and Wichard Woyke: Integration und Einwanderung - Eine Einführung. Schwalbach/Ts.: Wochenschau Verlag, 2007, 92-118
- "On the training situation of young migrants - potentials and obstacles". In: Journal for Refugee Policy in Lower Saxony, Special Issue 118, 4/2007, 28-34
- "Perspectives on Immigration - Integration Opportunities for Immigrants in Germany and Canada". In: Journal for Political Education. Issue on "Integration and Immigration", 3/2006, 73-93
- "Processes of integration and marginalisation among second-generation Turkish immigrants". With Norbert Gestring and Andrea Janßen. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2006
- "Social networks of Turkish migrants". With Andrea Janßen. In: From Politics and Contemporary History. Issue on the topic of "Parallel Societies in Germany", 1-2/2006, 11-17
- "Every pot finds its lid and Germany has become the lid for us - The second generation of Turkish migrants in Hanover." With Andrea Janßen. In: Puschmann, Wolfgang/Schmalstieg, Herbert (eds.): Stadt und Kirche im demographischen Wandel. Evangelical Lutheran City Church Association, 2006,
- "My place is here..." - The second generation of Turkish migrants. With Norbert Gestring, Andrea Janßen & Walter Siebel. In: Insights. Research magazine of the University of Oldenburg. Issue no. 40, 2004, 8-11
- "Integration Paths: The Second Generation in the USA and Germany." With Norbert Gestring & Andrea Janßen. In: Walter Siebel (ed.): The European City. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp, 2004, 230-243
- "About resources and restrictions: The Role of the Neighbourhood for the Integration of Migrants." With Andrea Janßen. In: Thorsten Wiechmann/Oliver Fuchs (eds.): Planning and Migration. Hanover: Academy for Spatial Research and Planning, 2004, 88-99
- "As one of Hanover's most beautiful neighbourhoods" - Migrants in a large housing estate. With Norbert Gestring & Andrea Janßen. In: Information on Spatial Development, H. 3/4 2003, 207-216
Research projects
Ongoing projects:
MIRASTO: Migrant self-organisations and socio-educational further education - a responsive study (BMBF, duration: 01.11.2024-31.10.2027). The project "Migrant self-organisations and socio-educational further education - a responsive study" examines educational designs of migrant self-organisations (MSOs) in relation to the biographical experiences of graduates of further education for socio-educational fields of action. The project theoretically follows a discrimination-critical perspective on pedagogical action in migration societies, which is the basis for the development of diversity-sensitive programmes.
Further information on the project: uol.de/c3l/projekte-am-c3l/mirasto-10549
"Contact study: Recognition and pedagogical competence in the migration society". The project"Kontaktstudium: Anerkennung und pädagogische Kompetenz in der Migrationsgesellschaft" is being carried out in co-operation with the C3L (Centre for Lifelong Learning), kargah e.V. in Hanover, effect gGmbH in Bremen, KUBI Gesellschaft für Kultur und Bildung gGmbH and the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. It is co-financed by the European Union from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). It is also funded by the BMBF through the DAAD's PROFI programme. The project consists of four building blocks. They are aimed at providing sustainable support for the effective participation of higher and highly qualified migrants and refugees who are striving for qualification-appropriate and fair access to education in the pedagogical field and social participation in line with their level of qualification.
Further information on the project: uol.de/cmc/kontaktstudium
Completed research projects:
- 10/2020-09/2023: DiGeKO"Improving the health literacy of functionally illiterate people with and without a migration background using digital media" (BMBF).
- 03/2022-09/2023: "Diversity Awareness at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences - Reflecting and changing framework conditions and processes in a discrimination-critical manner".
- 03/2020-02/2022: Experiences of discrimination by students at Kiel University of Applied Sciences.
- 03/2016-02/2017: Scientific monitoring of the "Network for psychosocial and psychotherapeutic care for traumatised refugees in Schleswig-Holstein".
03/2016-02/2017: Scientific monitoring of the care concept of an initial reception centre for refugees in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Responsible activities outside the university
- Scientific counselling for various social and educational institutions and political expert committees
- Speaker at training courses on anti-discriminatory approaches and diversity awareness in educational and social fields of action
- Member of the scientific advisory board of the specialist journal "Migration und Soziale Arbeit" (Juventa Verlag)
Memberships in scientific associations
- Section Migration and Ethnic Minorities of the DGS
- Council for Migration
Experience abroad (study/teaching/research/work)
- 05-08/2005: Postdoctoral Fellowship at the "Centre for Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies", University of Toronto/Canada.
- May 2019: Excursion to Antwerp and participation in the international module "Crossing Borders - An interdisciplinary and inclusive answer to urban challenges" of the Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences Antwerp.
- February 2023: Excursion to Malmö and participation in the international module "Social Policies in Europe" at Malmö University.
- July 2023: Excursion to Sierre/Switzerland and participation in the international module "Child Protection" at Hesso/Wallis.