How is continuing education organised in Germany? What social and political factors influence its development? What impact does continuing education have on individuals and society? The System and Policy research [AW1.1]department addresses these questions[A.
Its work involves analysing the structures and developments of continuing education and examining the related policy governance. The analysis covers continuing education institutions, the courses they offer, their teachers and trainers and their participants. International comparisons enable us to identify similarities and differences between education systems, contextualising them within political and economic frameworks.
The department’s research is divided into two main areas:
Reliable education policy requires robust data. The department therefore continuously refines the database for education reporting. It evaluates national and international studies, accesses new data sources and develops methods to highlight trends in continuing education. Examples include the wbmonitor, which regularly provides information on the continuing education landscape in Germany, and the department’s contribution to the National Education Report. The TAEPS study on continuing education staff will also help improve the long-term data available for research and education policy.
The second area of research examines the influence of societal changes and educational policies on continuing education. It addresses questions such as which policy instruments are effective, the conditions under which they are successful and the benefits that continuing education brings to individuals and society. The research considers various levels, from political decisions and regional structures to local institutions. International collaboration and innovative data analysis methods, including artificial intelligence techniques, provide new ways of examining developments within the continuing education system and offer scientifically sound insights for policy-making and practice.
