The Research Community “Future of Education” brings together educational research across Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. It creates a shared strategic space for interdisciplinary research, collaboration, transfer, and early career development in the field of education.

By connecting the complementary strengths of the three UA Ruhr universities, the Research Community makes visible a research landscape that is broader than any single location. It links expertise in educational sciences, psychology, sociology, subject didactics, teaching and learning research, educational monitoring, and related fields. In doing so, it strengthens the UA Ruhr as a national and international hub for research on school and higher education.

Education systems are facing complex challenges: digital transformation, social inequality, diversity, changing learning environments, new demands on teachers and institutions, and the need for robust educational data and evidence. Addressing these challenges requires more than individual projects or isolated perspectives.

The Research Community provides a framework for bringing together researchers, methods, infrastructures, and perspectives across locations. It connects existing centres, institutes, and initiatives and complements them by creating opportunities for joint research development, cross-location exchange, and visible collaboration within and beyond the UA Ruhr.
Together, we aim to advance high-quality, innovative, and socially relevant educational research.

The Research Community addresses current and future challenges in education, from school through to higher education. Its thematic structure is open and will continue to evolve through collaboration among its members.

Current thematic perspectives include:

• Data, evidence, and methods for educational research
• Learning, teaching, and assessment in changing educational contexts
• (Digital) skills, literacies, and agency for future learning
• Equity, diversity, and intersectionality in education
• Institutional and system-level conditions for educational quality and innovation
• Transfer, professional development, and communication between research, practice, and policy
   

The Research Community supports collaboration through formats that foster exchange, visibility, and joint development. These can include workshops, colloquia, thematic networking events, invited talks by international researchers, or joint publications.

A particular focus lies on supporting early career researchers. The Research Community offers opportunities for networking, visibility, independent academic activities, and cross-location exchange. It aims to create an inspiring and supportive environment for researchers in early career phases.

The Research Community brings together researchers across the UA Ruhr who are engaged in high-quality educational research and interested in interdisciplinary exchange and cross-location collaboration. It provides a platform for connecting complementary expertise, developing ambitious research initiatives, and strengthening cooperation across universities, disciplines, and career stages.

The community also seeks dialogue and cooperation with leading national and international scholars, early career researchers, partners from educational practice and transfer, and stakeholders from educational policy and administration who contribute relevant expertise and perspectives on the future of education.

The Research Community serves as a visible point of contact within the UA Ruhr for those seeking research expertise, strategic cooperation opportunities, or scholarly exchange. While it is open to new ideas and connections, participation in specific projects, formats, and initiatives may be based on thematic fit, research quality, and their contribution to the strategic profile of the community.