Accompanying Study “miteinander.Bildung.leben”

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Research period: 1.2.2017 to 31.12.2017

The miteinander.Bildung.leben project(further information on the project can be found here) is a German course for tertiary-educated participants (asylum seekers). In addition to the German course, participants are also offered special support measures:

  • German course
  • Student learning support from FH students
  • Subject-related and life-world orientated activities
  • Volunteer buddy network by FH students and employees
  • Social work support

The aim of the project evaluation is to assess the educational programme in its various dimensions. The aim is to recognise any potential for improvement and derive further developments for the project.

The basic research question is derived from this: What is the impact of the individual measures offered (social work supervision / student learning support / buddies) on the sub-goals set out in the project, individually but also from the perspective of the group as a whole? For this purpose, weekly self-assessments of the participants were collected using a standardised questionnaire and the changes in the individual self-assessments were analysed using fixed-effects panel models.

This research project found that the miteinander.Bildung.leben project had a significant positive effect on the course participants' German language skills. However, further positive changes can be observed in the participants, particularly beyond the classic transfer of knowledge in learning German. For example, positive changes were also observed in the willingness to engage with political developments in Austria through German-language media, as well as to engage with Austrian values and norms. The project also improved the participants' insight into the Austrian education system. The buddy network is likely to have a particularly favourable effect on the project participants' insights into everyday life in Austria. In addition, the buddies fulfil a bridging function for further contacts between the course participants and Austrians.

Overall, the project Miteinander.Bildung.leben can therefore be considered to have had a very positive outcome.

Research Goals

  • Evaluate the training programme in its various dimensions
  • Recognising any existing opportunities for improvement
  • Derive further developments of the project

Research field (until 31 July 2020)

Social Work Research

Since 1 August 2020, five interdisciplinary Research Areas have replaced existing research fields.

Project Lead

Project Team