UA Ruhr Establishes Three Research Communities on key Future Topics

The aim of the three research communities Education, Sustainability and Diversity in the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) is to pool scientific expertise and strategically develop cooperation, expand joint activities, particularly in research, increase international visibility and jointly acquire third-party funding. This is linked to strengthening the promotion of scientists in early career phases.

The Future of Education Research Community - initiated by Prof. Nele McElvany (TU Dortmund University), Prof. Nikol Rummel (Ruhr University Bochum) and Prof. Isabell van Ackeren-Mindl (University of Duisburg-Essen) - brings together 18 founding members from educational science, psychology, didactics, teaching-learning research and sociology with the aim of systematically networking the diverse competencies of educational research in the UA Ruhr. The focus is on education-related issues in order to better address them in the future in an interdisciplinary manner and across different levels of analysis: from data collection in the micro area to social framework conditions, for example with regard to learning in a digitalized world. A particular focus is on the transfer of scientific findings into educational practice, for example in teacher training.

The Research Community Sustainability was initiated by Prof. Andreas Löschel (Ruhr University Bochum), Prof. Christian Rehtanz (TU Dortmund University) and Dr. Sebastian Schmuck (University of Duisburg-Essen) and brings together the expertise of currently 19 university lecturers. There are also plans to integrate a new Klaus Toepfer Professorship for Sustainable Development. Sustainability is a central cross-cutting topic at all three universities with numerous research projects and networks, for example in the areas of energy and resource transition, the circular economy, mobility and sustainable urban and regional development. The community brings together technical and scientific approaches with social science and humanities perspectives and addresses transformation processes towards climate neutrality and resilience as well as issues of governance, acceptance, economic efficiency and social participation. Sustainability transformation is explicitly conceived in dialog with business, politics, administration and civil society.

The Research Community Diversity and Society - initiated by Prof. Aladin El-Mafaalani (TU Dortmund University), Prof. Isolde Karle (Ruhr University Bochum) and Prof. Nicolle Pfaff (University of Duisburg-Essen) - brings together 18 university lecturers from the humanities, social sciences and education to further develop diversity research across locations. The focus is on the analysis of social, cultural and institutional forms of diversity and their significance for participation, recognition and justice in the migration society. Thematically, the spectrum ranges from educational equity, migration, inclusion and religious diversity to the investigation of discrimination, racism, hatred and social polarization. Gender studies plays a central role here as a focus of the UA Ruhr that has been established for decades. The community builds on existing international networks and also strengthens the anchoring of the topic in teaching with new formats such as the "Diversity and Gender Certificate Program".