The Vocational Education research area is comprehensively dedicated, in both research and teaching, to issues surrounding the transition from general education to vocational training and the workforce. In the spirit of emancipatory realism, our research and teacher education programs aim to help expand young people’s potential for emancipation.

Key research areas include the examination of social inequality in post-secondary education, regional vocational training markets, subjective transition processes, democracy education, digitalization and vocational life, vocational education policy, and international vocational education.

Starting in the summer semester of 2026, the Vocational Education Research Group will be headed by Prof. Dr. Marcus Eckelt. Until the winter semester of 2025/26, Dr. Maria Gruber served as acting professor.

Departmental Office