Higher Education and Graduate Employment
| Who gains access to higher education? What conditions shape individuals' path through it? How do graduates make the transition into employment, and who stays in the science system? How do graduates contribute to society's future — and conversely, how does societal change influence higher education and the people in it? |
Research Areas
The department focuses on higher education as a key resource for individuals and society — a setting in which people can develop their potential and put it to good use. Our work draws on long-running cross-sectional and longitudinal studies — unique in Germany — that we collect in-house and make available in line with open science principles. They capture the decisions, pathways, and development of students, graduates and doctoral researchers, along with the contexts that shape them. Together, these data enable evidence-based insights for policymaking and society.
The department contributes empirical research to public and political discourse and translates its findings into policy and practice through evidence-based advice and knowledge transfer. Our multidisciplinary team consists of experts primarily from sociology, economics, psychology, political science, and education. Methodologically, our work ranges from monitoring and survey methodology to longitudinal analyses, causal inference, and European comparisons.
Contact
