Welcome to the
Institute for Social Pedagogy
With its Bachelor’s program in Social Work, the Institute offers one of the largest degree programs at the University of Siegen, providing training in all fields of social work (with state accreditation) and laying the foundation for further academic qualifications. The Master’s program in Social Work, for which we are also responsible, prepares students for leadership roles in the field of social work as well as for further academic careers, such as pursuing a Ph.D. Students in both programs and doctoral candidates benefit from a diverse range of topics, interdisciplinary approaches, and practical networking opportunities.
The institute comprises approximately 50 faculty and staff members who address a wide range of socially highly relevant topics in teaching and research. This includes, for example, the examination
- social inequality and discrimination in various societal contexts and in (social) educational institutions—for example, with a focus on violence or poverty and from perspectives such as gender, ableism, or racism;
- with growing up, education, and educational settings, e.g., in the context of educational support services, youth work, daycare, (full-day) schools, or in the digital space;
- professionalism and professionalization, e.g., with regard to social work methods, in relation to organizational conditions, or in the context of collaboration;
- on involvement, participation, and inclusion, e.g., in municipal planning or with regard to child and youth welfare, integration assistance, or volunteer work;
- with crime and criminalization, e.g., in the juvenile justice system, in public spaces, or from a historical perspective.
The majority of the Institute’s members are social educators, along with colleagues from the social sciences, economics, educational sciences, and general pedagogy. Together—along with other colleagues from sociology, psychology, and political science—they are firmly integrated into the design of the social work degree programs.
The institute has an exceptionally strong research focus. We conduct—methodologically diverse—theory development, basic research, and applied research, addressing various social contexts, target groups, and fields of social work.
The institute is affiliated with the Center for Planning and Development of Social Services (ZPE), the Center for Interdisciplinary Crime Studies (CiCS), the Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Spaces (IZBR), and the DFG Research Training Group on the Consequences of Social Assistance.
We are also closely networked with practitioners and institutions in both local and supraregional contexts —for example, through practice development projects or professional events—in order to contribute directly to reflective and client-centered social work.
Research Facilities of the Institute for Social Pedagogy
We conduct research both in the region and at the (inter)national level.
Center for Interdisciplinary Crime Studies (CiCS)
The “Center for
Interdisciplinary Crime Studies”
(CiCS), founded in 2022, is an interdisciplinary network of individuals conducting research on crime at the University of Siegen. The network includes representatives from the fields of sociology of law, social sciences, education, and literary and cultural studies, among others.
DFG Research Training Group "Consequences of Social Assistance"
Established in 2020, this Research Training Group investigates the “Consequences of Social Assistance” across various fields of study and from different methodological perspectives. The interdisciplinary group relies in particular on open research approaches to identify even unanticipated dimensions of these consequences.
Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Spaces (IZBR)
The Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Spaces (IZBR) is a research institution within School II. The members of the IZBR are researchers and practitioners from the fields of architecture, educational science, art, music, psychology, and social pedagogy, and they examine educational spaces from a variety of methodological and substantive perspectives.
Center for Planning and Development of Social Services (ZPE)
The ZPE sees itself as a bridge between theoretical and practical developments in the fields of social work, extracurricular education and training, and health and social policy. It maintains regional, national, and international networks and collaborates with organizations in the social and health sectors, with government agencies and ministries, and with universities in Germany, Europe, and beyond.
Support for Doctoral and Habilitation Candidates
The opportunity to pursue a doctorate in social pedagogy is rare throughout Germany and is therefore particularly appealing to students and young researchers.
