Fundamental studies
Bergische Universität turns the special educational format of Witten/Herdecke University into a research project
Photo Colourbox
This doctorate, carried out by Lena Labuwy-Stark, builds on the examination of university institutes in her master's thesis, in which she already investigated the educational programme of the Frankfurt School. The project is being supervised by Prof. Dr Rita Casale, who brings comprehensive historical and theoretical perspectives to the research project.
The doctoral project follows on from the DFG research project carried out at the BUW (headed by R. Casale/Prof. Dr Gabriele Molzberger). For Rita Casale, holder of the Chair of General Educational Science/Theory of Education at the BUW, "it represents an important contribution to researching the Studium fundamentale in the context of the university's understanding of itself and science - both from a historical and educational policy perspective - and at the same time contributes to further profiling the focus on philosophy of education and history of education at the BUW".
Why holistic education counts now
"In our society, we need people who can observe, listen, form an opinion in a constructive exchange with others and express it," says Prof Dr Renate Buschmann, Academic Director of the WittenLab. Zukunftslabor Studium fundamentale at the UW/H. "The Studium fundamentale is an educational innovation that originated more than 40 years ago at the newly founded Witten/Herdecke University. The fact that this format is now being scientifically analysed shows how relevant this educational approach is."
The research project was initiated by the Werner Richard - Dr Carl Dörken Foundation, which has supported the Studium fundamentale financially for many years. It is funding the doctorate over three years with a scholarship. "Supporting the Studium fundamentale is important to us because it encourages young people to adopt different perspectives and become socially involved," says Sonja Leidemann, Chairwoman of the Foundation. "In times of social upheaval, we need personalities who think in a differentiated way and act responsibly - and that's exactly what this educational approach makes possible."
