Funding organisation:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research Further information

Project leader:
Prof. Dr Karsten Speck (University of Oldenburg)
Holger-Backhaus-Maul (University of Halle)

Duration:
01/2009 - 08/2010

Research assistants:
Dipl.-Päd. Maud Krohn

Student assistant:
Anna-Maria Kulicke
Karsten Mühle

Project description:
As part of the research project, the framework conditions, self-image, community involvement, tasks and services as well as the developments and effects of intermediary organisations of civil society involvement are to be examined in more detail. The nationwide study focuses on local volunteer agencies, volunteer exchanges and volunteer centres in Germany. The following three research questions are of interest: 1. how have the self-image, local integration, tasks and services of intermediary organisations for civic engagement developed in recent years (self-image and profile question)? 2. what impact do the intermediary organisations achieve from the perspective of different stakeholder groups (impact question)? 3. what expectations do the intermediary organisations of civil society engagement and political decision-makers have of umbrella organisations and associations and how is their work assessed (support question)? To answer the research questions, a quantitative survey of responsible managers of intermediary organisations for civil society engagement in Germany, qualitative case studies in selected municipalities and supplementary qualitative interviews with selected experts at federal, state and municipal level are planned.

Firstly, the study is intended to provide reliable findings on intermediary organisations for civil society engagement in Germany. Secondly, it should enable a differentiated presentation of the strengths, weaknesses and potential of intermediary organisations of civil society engagement. Thirdly, criteria and standards for successful local intermediary organisations for civil society engagement and engagement policy strategies for local authorities are to be developed.

Funding organisation:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Duration:
04/2010 - 08/2010

Project leader:
Prof Dr Karsten Speck (University of Oldenburg)
Prof Dr Thomas Olk (University of Potsdam)

Commissioned by:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research Further information

Project leader:
Prof Dr Karsten Speck (University of Oldenburg)
Prof Dr Thomas Olk (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

Duration:
01/2008 - 3/2010

Research assistants:
Nico Michalsky (University of Potsdam)
Thomas Stimpel (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)
Michaela Frohberg (University of Potsdam)

Student assistants:
Korinna Sievert (University of Potsdam)
Neli Aleksieva (University of Potsdam)
Franziska Käsmarker (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)
Ivanka Somborski (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

National cooperation partners:
Prof Dr Wilfried Schubarth (University of Potsdam)
Prof Dr Marianne Horstkemper (University of Potsdam)
Prof Dr Werner Helsper (MLU Halle-Wittenberg)
Prof Dr Sabine Reh/Dr Betinna Fritzsche (TU Berlin)
Dr Till-Sebastian Idel (University of Main)
Prof Dr Andreas Wernet (Leibnitz University Hannover)

International cooperation partners:
Prof. Dr Zenon Jasinski (University of Opole, Poland)
Prof. Dr Grazyna Mikowska-Olejniczak (University of Zielona Góra, Poland)
Dr Lech Salacinski (University of Zielona Góra, Poland)
Dr Magdalena Piorunek (University of Adam Mickiewicz Poznañ, Poland)
Dr Irina Gutnik (Pedagogical Sciences) Irina Gutnik (St. Petersburg Pedagogical University, Russia)
Dr Elena Piskunova (St. Petersburg Pedagogical University, Russia)
Prof. Dr Jeanne Marsh (School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, USA)

Project description:
The research project aims to investigate co-operation at all-day schools in two Federal States (Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt) on the basis of preliminary considerations relating to professional and co-operation theory and using a total of ten qualitative, school-related case studies. The focus of interest is on the (professionally) specific cooperation ideas of the cooperation partners at all-day schools, the characteristics of cooperation practice at all-day schools, the effects of the all-day specific requirements on the academic appointments and actions of the cooperation partners as well as the success of cooperation at all-day schools from the perspective of the participants. The following questions will be answered:

1. what (professionally) specific ideas of cooperation do the school-based as well as the in-school and out-of-school cooperation partners at all-day schools have?

2. what are the characteristics of co-operation practice at all-day schools?

3. what effects of the requirements specific to all-day schools on the academic appointments and actions of the various cooperation partners can be reconstructed and how is the success of cooperation at all-day schools assessed from the subjective perspective of various cooperation partners?

The results of the research project will be used to draw conclusions about the conditions for success and failure of co-operation at all-day schools and for the implementation, realisation and further development of all-day programmes.

Commissioned by:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research Further information

Project leader:
Prof. Dr Karsten Speck
Prof. Dr Wilfried Schubarth
Dr Seidel

Duration:
04/2008 - 03/2010

Research assistants:
Nico Michalsky

Student assistants:
Kathrin Wegmann
Marlen Wodke
Silva Engel

Cooperation partners:
Prof. Dr Thomas Olk (Martin Luther University Halle)
Dr Georg Breidenstein (Martin Luther University Halle)
Dr Elena Piskunova (St. Petersburg Pedagogical University, Russia)

Project description:
The research project is part of the joint project "Professional co-operation between different professional cultures at all-day schools" as sub-project 3. The joint project is being carried out jointly by the University of Potsdam and the University of Halle-Wittenberg (Prof Dr Thomas Olk). Sub-project 3 will use qualitative surveys in the state of Lower Saxony to crystallise a) the educational ideas and understanding of those involved in all-day education, b) the concrete development and coordination of all-day educational provision and c) the educational success of the co-operation from the perspective of those involved in all-day education. Firstly, it is important to what extent schools and youth welfare organisations and, where applicable, other institutions and individuals in the social environment succeed in planning, implementing and further developing a joint all-day programme with formal, non-formal and informal educational components and arrangements for and with children and young people at local authority level. Secondly, it is of interest which interactions exist between school quality on the one hand and co-operation with other educational institutions in all-day education on the other. Thirdly, the extent to which co-operation between all-day schools and other educational institutions leads to school development will be investigated. The research project is theoretically orientated - in addition to concepts of professional and cooperation theory - on the findings of school research on the autonomy, quality and further development of schools (e.g. Rolff 2001, Fend 2006, Solzbacher 2007) as well as concepts of all-day education (Coelen 2002, 2004) and municipal educational landscapes (cf. BMFSFJ 2005).

Funding organisation:
"Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam" foundation

Client:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg(www.mbjs.brandenburg.de)

Project leader:
Prof. Dr Wilfried Schubarth (University of Potsdam)
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)

Duration:
04/2008 - 12/2009

Research assistants:
Diplom Sozialwissenschaftlerin Julia Barth (University of Potsdam)

Student assistant:
Susanne Hamann (University of Potsdam)

Project description:
At the centre of the research interest is the participation and value formation of disadvantaged young people. By focussing the research project on rural regions, the special features of participation and value formation in rural areas of Brandenburg are to be adequately taken into account and the specifics, potentials and challenges there are to be crystallised, not least in view of demographic change and its effects on rural areas. To this end, following a state-wide survey, an in-depth analysis is planned in two to three selected rural regions. Building on this, the research project will provide transferable knowledge for youth welfare, schools and state and local politics. The research project has three specific objectives:

Objective 1: State-wide inventory: systematic recording, processing and publication of participation and value formation approaches in rural areas of the state of Brandenburg with a focus on disadvantaged young people.
Objective 2: Local stocktaking: Recording the perceptions and strategies for participation and value formation of (disadvantaged) young people on the one hand and youth and education experts on the other in two to three selected rural regions of the state of Brandenburg (e.g. youth welfare offices, authorities, mayors, those responsible for participation, independent youth welfare organisations, associations, representatives of local alliances).
Objective 3: State-wide and local recommendations for action: Formulation and transfer of recommendations for action for youth welfare, schools and state and local politics to promote the participation and value formation of (disadvantaged) young people in rural regions of Brandenburg.

The research project will be carried out in three stages: Stage 1: Preparation of the inventory as part of a preliminary study by means of a teaching-research project (April to September 2008), Stage 2: State-wide inventory as part of a first main study (October 2008 to March 2009), Stage 3: Local inventory as part of a second main study and formulation of recommendations for action (April 2009 to December 2009).

Client:
German Children and Youth Foundation
Service Agency "Ganztägig Lernen" Saxony-Anhalt

Project leader:
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)

Duration:
09/2008 - 1/2009

Student assistant:
Caroline Kamm (University of Potsdam)
Karsten Mühle (University of Potsdam)

Project description:
The evaluation study aims to answer three questions: 1. to what extent were the service agency's intended goals achieved? 2. how effective are the service agency's programmes for all-day schools from the perspective of the various participants? 3. how do the schools rate the service agency and what do they want from it? The study will focus on the impact of the service agency's work on school development.

Funding provider:
City of Templin
BMFSFJ (further information)
Funded as part of the federal programme "VIELFALT TUT GUT. Youth for Diversity, Tolerance and Democracy" programme (further information)

Project leader:
Prof. Dr Wilfried Schubarth (University of Potsdam)
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)

Duration:
06/2009-04/2010

Research assistant:
Ms Astrid Peters

Project description:
P.p. and in coordination with the city of Templin, a social space analysis is being carried out in the city of Templin: The social space analysis includes a context analysis on the one hand and a qualitative survey of stakeholders from different age groups, including experts from various institutions, on the other. The analysis focuses on a) the understanding of participation and values of the Templin residents surveyed, b) the civic and democracy-promoting participation and value formation programmes available in Templin and c) the experience of and involvement in shaping civic structures in the town of Templin. The social space analysis is designed as a participatory process of empirical enquiry. In addition to the results of the analysis, the planned final report will also formulate recommendations for action strategies to promote civil society in the city of Templin.