Inclusive Education Unit
About us
The research area "Inclusive Education" deals with inclusion and its implementation in different educational contexts. In a humanitarian understanding, we are concerned with questions of equal opportunities and participation of people with individual resources and potentials as well as evidence-based further development of an inclusive society. The primary research interests lie in the fields of inclusive education and special or remedial education. Special consideration is also given to the increasing digitalisation as well as the handling and use of information and communication technologies in teaching, diagnostics and support.
The staff of the department are currently working on the following research areas:
- Evaluation of inclusive education in schools and other institutions
- Professionalization of teachers and school assistants
- Social-emotional development of children and adolescents, interventions for pupils with social-emotional difficulties
- Promotion of health literacy in students
- Interventions in inclusive classrooms to promote reading development in general and for students with German as a second language in particular
- Assessment tools in the areas of language, reading and social-emotional development (paper-pencil and digital)
- Quality of living and housing of people with disabilities
- Early detection of dementia in people with intellectual disability
In recent years, several longitudinal studies (SILKE, LARS), studies on cooperative learning and cooperative teaching methods (KoopLEA), research on attitudes towards inclusion of students with special educational needs and/or refugees, and participatory action research on inclusive practices in the classroom (ReHaRe) have been conducted and assessment instruments (vocabulary, reading skills) have been developed and published (GraWo, DiLe-D, GaLeV).
The department has carried out several international, as well as national projects, both as coordinating and partner institution (with England, Denmark, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Sweden, Slovenia, Croatia, Norway etc.). These research projects were funded by various international (Erasmus+, foundations) or national (FWF, BMBWF, Land Steiermark, Gesundheitsfonds Steiermark, AK Steiermark) funding bodies. Regionally, the department works closely with the universities of teacher education and initiated the founding of the Research Centre for Inclusive Education (FZIB) in 2020. In addition to the aforementioned cooperation partners, the department also works closely with other institutions such as schools or associations that deal with inclusion.
Methodologically, we use a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Participatory research with children and people with disabilities is particularly important to us.
Networks in which the research department is involved and active:
European Literacy Network (COST Action IS1401), Austrian Platform for Health Literacy (ÖPGK), Working Group on Empirical Special Education Research (AESF), Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR), European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), European Educational Research Association (EERA), German Society for Educational Science (DGFE), German Society for Psychology (DGPS), German Network for Evidence-Based Medicine (EbM Network), Austrian Society for Research and Development in Education (ÖFEB).
In addition to its research activities, the department is also involved in teaching. In the Development Network South-East, we coordinate the Bachelor's and Master's programmes of the teaching profession “Specialisation in Inclusive Education” along with the universities of teacher education. We participate in various further and in-service training formats, including the university course "Health Promotion and Health Education".
Finally, our department (further) develops, coordinates and offers the Master's programme "Inclusive Education". In addition to theoretical basics and the examination of empirical research methods, this study programme teaches an appreciative and resource-oriented basic attitude towards dealing with diversity and deals with the implementation of inclusion in different areas of society.
Overview of Current Third-Party Funded Projects
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and EXperiments in Science - Improving Social Inclusion and Learning for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Experimenting in Natural Science Lessons
Digital tool for the early detection of dementia in people with intellectual disabilities
European Quality Development System for Inclusive Education and Teacher Training
Lightweight Construction Made Easy for Children and Young People
Doctoral program: Evidence-based support for reading and language in the classroom - digital and inclusive innovations
Mental Health Literacy and Diversity. Enhancing Mental Health and Resilience through Digital Resources for Youth
Digital coaches support primary school pupils and teachers in dealing with digital media