Brief description

As part of the research focus "Participation and education" the connection between education and social inequality is analysed from a social and educational science perspective.

In an educational science perspective the focus is on analysing permeability and social participation in the education system. On the one hand, the focus is on the institutional and structural barriers of the education system itself, which lead to selectivity, drop-outs and the lack of participation of underrepresented, educationally disadvantaged and impaired groups. On the other hand, the structures, processes and effects of educational policy and pedagogical interventions for participation and inclusion and for quality improvement in the education system are analysed. In the secondary sector, the question is how successful educational biographies, processes and transitions of children and young people as well as personal and social skills can be promoted. In the tertiary sector, the focus is on the impact of nationwide programmes to promote permeability between academic appointments and higher education as well as the reduction of dropout rates at universities.

From a social science perspective the focus is on analysing educational inequalities. This involves analysing the intergenerational mobility of education and social status, the dynamics of educational inequalities in the life course and the specific diffusion channels of inequality. It is also about the accumulation and consolidation of social disadvantages, as inadequate educational profiles often go hand in hand with disadvantages and marginalisation in other fields. This raises the question of how the accumulation of disadvantages can be tackled through the further development of labour market, education and social policies and the importance of international organisations such as the EU or the OECD.

The two perspectives pursued in several major research projects have now been brought together in structured doctoral programmes at the School. In the future, the emphasis will be placed more strongly on further national and international joint projects in addition to the existing co-operations.

Contact persons:

• The Dean of the School
  
• The Institute Directors of the three Institutes(Education, Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation and Social Sciences)

Social Participation & Education

Within the framework of the research focus on "Social Participation and Education" we explore the relationships between education and social inequalities from social and educational science perspectives.

From an educational science perspective, we analyse permeability and social participation in the educational system. On the one hand, we focus on institutional and structural barriers in this system that lead to selectivity, interruption of educational careers, and to lack of participation of underrepresented, educationally disadvantaged, and impaired groups. On the other hand, we analyse structures, processes and impacts of educational policies and pedagogical interventions to foster participation and inclusion to enhance the quality of our educational system. In the secondary sector, we explore how successful educational biographies, processes, and transitions of children and adolescents as well as their personal and social competencies can be improved. In the tertiary sector, we focus on the impact of nationwide programmes on permeability between occupational and high-school education as well as the reduction of drop-out rates in universities.

From a social science perspective, the analysis of educational inequalities takes centre stage. We work on intergenerational mobility of education and social status, dynamics of educational inequalities throughout the lifespan, and on the identification of concrete channels of diffusion of inequality. Above, we explore the cumulation and consolidation of social disadvantages as well as exclusion in other areas of life. This poses the question, of how the circle of cumulating disadvantages may be broken by advancements in the labour market, educational and social policies, and how important international organisations like the EU or the OECD may be in this interplay.

Several larger-scale research projects follow the outlined perspectives. In the meantime, these perspectives were merged together in structured graduation programmes of the faculty. National and international joint research projects will be more strongly accentuated perspectively.

Contact person:

• the Dean of the Faculty
• the Directors of the Institute of Education, the Institute of Special Needs Education, and the Institute of Social Sciences