




The funded projects are accompanied scientifically by a respective consortium. From 2011 to 2016, the consortium consisted of researchers from the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, the Berlin University for Professional Studies and the Humboldt University Berlin. Since 2016 the supporting scientific research team consists of researchers from the FernUniversität in Hagen, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, TU Dortmund and Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE).
The accompanying scientific research aims to assist the selected HEIs with their approach towards heterogeneous student groups as lifelong learners, their instructional design and implementation of the different study programs and courses, as well as to solidly integrate the programs and courses in the respective HEIs. The accompanying scientific research focuses on the following tasks:
The accompanying scientific research team observes and researches national and international developments in lifelong learning at higher education institutions and relays its research and observations to the competition. The new findings are expected to enable HEIs to establish distinct profiles and, consequently, enhance the German higher education system. Taking into consideration the identified national and international developments, emphasis lies on the following field of research:
This research focuses on the interconnection between academic and professional knowledge in study programs developed within the competition. The following questions are addressed:
By focusing on the implicit and explicit perceptions and approaches towards sustainability and transfer of project results within joint projects, this research pursues three main goals:
The underlying objective is to make experience and knowledge regarding sustainability and transfer usable for upcoming programs and (cooperative) projects, thereby contributing important insights to the field of sustainability and organizational research concerning projects.
In general, this research questions the underlying reasons lecturers become involved in teaching within the field of continuing higher education or lifelong learning. To gain a comprehensive overview of this issue, four research questions are being addressed:
This research focuses on student/participant diversity in the range of courses offered by the funded projects. Such courses include, for example, in-service training courses, certificate courses, as well as introductory and additional supporting courses. The following questions are addressed: