Publications

Beyond a substantial increase in LS following the transition to VET, we find no significant average effect of VET-related migration on apprentices’ LS. However, we observe significant effect heterogeneity: migration to enter higher-status (versus lower-status) occupations and migration to urban (versus rural) regions yield larger (short-term) LS gains for apprentices. These results suggest that, beyond strictly VET-related factors, age-specific lifestyle amenities, which become accessible by moving towards urban regions, moderate the effects of internal migration on LS. Overall, our study illustrates the need to consider the specificity of life stages and coupled life events when analysing the effects of migration on LS.

We find that study resources and private resources (especially personal resources such as high self-efficacy) are substantially negatively correlated with the student burnout risk. While the burnout risk differs only slightly by social background, it is notably higher among women than among men, primarily because women consider their study demands to be higher and their personal resources to be lower. Overall, our study illustrates that social groups differ in terms of perceived study demands and resources—and therefore require tailored support to reduce the risk of burnout.

The trend toward higher education since the turn of the millennium has reduced labor shortages in academic professions. However, an increase in the number of professionals with advanced degrees could drive down wages. This raises the question of whether pursuing a college degree is still financially worthwhile.

German academia has faced multiple changes over the last two decades, including new academic pathways to full professorship inspired by the Anglo-Saxon academic system, such as junior professorship and tenure track. Our study investigates the patterns of academic career trajectories to full professorship that have emerged subsequently. We illuminate the relationship between those “career types” and their determinants. Using data from the prof*panel (N = 660) and sequence-cluster analysis, we find four academic career clusters. Our findings suggest that traditional career paths still play a major role, although the influence of internationalization and novel academic career steps, like junior professorship, is growing.

Nacaps, the National Academics Panel Study, is a longitudinal study of doctoral candidates and doctorate holders in Germany funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) until 2024. The project aims at providing nationwide cross-sectional and longitudinal data on doctoral candidates and doctorate holders in Germany regarding their study conditions as well as their career trajectories within and outside of academia. The Nacaps study series apply a panel design to multiple cohorts. [...] Full Abstract: https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:nac2020:1.0.0

How are German universities coping with internationalization in the course of digital transformation? This article highlights increasing roles for IT staff and collaboration between administrative and academic personnel to enhance online delivery and partnerships. Digitalization offers potential but requires strategic integration; organizational support; digital literacy; and a holistic approach that promotes access, inclusion, diversity, and sustainable outcomes.