From an educational science perspective, we analyze 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, educational disadvantaged, and impaired groups. On the other hand, we analyze 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 programs 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 center. 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 labor market, educational and social policies, and how important international organizations like the EU or the OECD may be in this interplay.