GSC 1028:  Learning, Educational Achievement and Life Course Development: An Integrated Research and Training Programme

• Subject Area: Educational Research ; Psychology
• Term: from 2012 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 194491240

Despite a broad willingness in many countries to implement an evidence-based approach in educational policy, this process is severely impeded by a shortage of empirical data on "what works" in education and by a shortage of qualified experts. The Graduate School on Learning, Educational Achievement and Life Course Development (LEAD) will address seven key questions in the context of evidence-based education. To this end, the Interlinked Disciplinary Excellence Approach (IDEA) will build on existing excellence in Tübingen in six core research fields and integrate that disciplinary expertise within a broader framework. The IDEA approach highlights disciplinary excellence and describes conditions for successful interdisciplinary collaboration. Five critical LEAD Intersections have been defined for the implementation of IDEA principles. A particular strength of the Graduate School will be the use and development of innovative study designs and measurement approaches as well as sophisticated data analysis approaches. The LEADing Research Center will assist graduate students and researchers aiming to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of their empirical work, including a "What Works Summary" of their research. The Graduate School will further develop existing structures in the area of empirical educational research, which is a priority field for the University of Tübingen. With its focus on finding "best answers to real problems", the Graduate School will fit perfectly within the Tübingen academic profile of "Research - Relevance - Responsibility". The Graduate School aims to stimulate outstanding doctoral research on education-related issues and to maintain first-rate standards in all respects. The Graduate School will admit about 20 students per year. It will build on and integrate several existing coordinated research programmes and graduate schools within a professional, internationally oriented, structured graduate programme. Important elements will include a training and supervision concept that builds on both experience in running successful doctoral training programmes and an explicit framework of competencies to be acquired; an understanding that the training of future researchers and professionals is not restricted to the doctorate level; a strong international focus; the integrated goal of defining standards of excellence in the field of evidence-based education more generally; a commitment to increasing gender equality and supporting family-oriented work environments; and the integration of relevance and responsibility throughout the programme.

• DFG Programme: Graduate Schools
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ulrich Trautwein
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Jörg Baten; Professor Dr. Martin Biewen; Professorin Dr. Doreen Bryant; Professorin Dr. Ulrike Cress; Ann-Christine Ehlis, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Andreas Jochen Fallgatter; Professor Dr. Peter Gerjets; Professor Dr. Martin Hautzinger; Professor Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Hesse; Professor Dr. Steffen Hillmert; Professorin Dr. Kathrin Jonkmann; Professorin Dr. Barbara Kaup; Professor Dr. Detmar Meurers; Professor Dr. Benjamin Nagengast; Professor Dr. Hans-Christoph Nürk; Professorin Dr. Kerstin Pull; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Rosenstiel (†); Professor Dr. Kai Sassenberg; Professorin Dr. Katharina Scheiter; Professor Dr. Josef Schrader