Education & Social Work

 

Education and Social Work face various challenges in modern society. In particular, globalisation has led to massive demographic changes with increasing heterogeneity in people’s socioeconomic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Moreover, social and educational contexts have changed in the face of new media, new methods, and life span perspectives. Thus, educational and social assessments and policies consistently highlight the challenges that educational and non-formal education systems face in order to deal effectively with this increasing diversity of individuals and their environments.

In the quest for new scientific knowledge and effective solutions, researchers at the University of Luxembourg adopt a wide range of approaches to understanding education and social inclusion processes from multiple angles. While cognitive scientists focus on fundamental functions, trying to understand the mechanisms of human learning in a diverse, multilingual context, educational sociologists adopt a broader systems view to relate individual learners to society at large, and educational scientists apply and develop theories to understand processes of learning and teaching with highly diverse students, allowing the development of specific and differentiated pedagogies. Social work has a pivotal function here and mediates between the demands of society and individual life worlds. Significant efforts are devoted to developing and validating new assessment methods to provide better indicators of educational achievement and learner’s fitness for the world of tomorrow. Concrete applications are designed and tested to personalise learning, reduce inequalities and increase children’s and other learners’ success in life. For assessment, learning and instruction, digital technologies play an increasingly important role and are actively being developed. Lifelong learning and guidance is a newly studied field that is essential for the development of individuals’ education and training paths. Further, practical interventions for individuals with specific needs are researched, developed and implemented.  Following its global definition, Social Work promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.

A wide variety of research projects comes together in our department to highlight innovative approaches and methodologies for education, learning, and social development in highly diverse, multilingual and multicultural societies. Ranging from early childhood, through school and university and into employment, taking into account biographical life events and structural crises such like unemployment, poverty and social exclusion the different strands of research in the department contribute to gaining new understandings at the local, national and international levels.

 

 

Latest projects

Education & Social Work
Online Survey: Digifam
Researchers from the University of Luxembourg are currently looking for participants for an online survey on digital media use for language and literacy learning.
Education & Social Work
Two awards for the Create Digital Games for Education project
Two awards for the Create Digital Games for Education project
Education & Social Work
FIT-Choice Project within the BScE: Factors Influencing Teaching Choice in Luxembourg
In Luxembourg’s multilingual school system, which serves a highly diverse student population, the fundamental school teacher can best be described as a “Generalist”. Consequently, the admissions process aims to identify and select qualified candidates for training into the teaching profession at the fundamental school level (pre-school and primary school levels), including the preparation track in general secondary school and special needs education.
Education & Social Work
Improving early numeracy competencies through compensatory and differentiated interventions at school and at home (MATHPLAY -> MATHBRIDGE)
A quasi-experimental study to support the Early Numeracy Competencies through a Play-based approach both in schools and at home.
Education & Social Work
Families and schools. Involvement of foreign families in schools (FAMILYSCHOOL)
Action research to support the integration of (newly arrived) foreign families in schools.

The Erasmus+ Project KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and exchange of good practices, (specifically, KA201 – Strategic partnerships for schooling), from 2019 to 2021 (monitoring carried out until 2026), analysed, designed and evaluated innovations regarding the integration, communication and involvement of foreign-origin families in schools in Spain, Italy and Luxembourg.
Education & Social Work
Kuck elei! Digital Mikroskope fir Léierpersonal
Supporting primary teachers and students in exploring microworlds with digital microscopes.

This project supports the integration of innovative digital hand-held microscopes in science instruction in Luxembourg primary classes through the offering of a set of research-based science education workshops for teachers. In this way, this project will support teachers in engaging their students in discovering and investigating the microlevels of the world in which they live through the use of digital hand-held microscopes.
Education & Social Work
PhD Thesis : Parenthood as Othering
Subjectivation of dual-employed couples as 'parents of a child with disabilities’

Dual-employed couples whose child is categorised as 'disabled' are studied through the analysis of couple narratives and work-sharing arrangements. The investigation focuses on gendered division of labour and care work as well as on cultural knowledge and discourses that affect recognisability and subjectivation. Overall, the study provides insights into social processes that contribute to these couples being perceived as 'other' or 'special' parents.
Education & Social Work
Gender representations in primary school textbooks
Textbooks are powerful media; in addition to subject knowledge and pedagogic content, they also convey social norms and values.

This project aims to identify and examine gender representations and stereotypes in Luxembourg primary school textbooks.


Through a mixed methods research, we determine the proportions of female and male characters and analyse the gender roles in which they are represented. A diversity of gender representations and role models in textbooks are fundamental to child development and socialisation.
Education & Social Work
CEEF project: an elementary school teachers large-scale mixed-methods study about their work and difficulties they face
On behalf of the Observatoire national de la qualité scolaire (ONQS), the Institute of Lifelong Learning and Guidance (LLLG) will conduct a mixed-methods study (large-scale survey and workshops) that aims to describe current main difficulties of the teaching profession in elementary schools and to examine the extent to which principles of the 2009 Law have been implemented in schools. The study will closely involve educational actors in the analysis and discussion of the data.
Education & Social Work
Investigating student’s learning satisfaction and well-being in the context of imposed remote teaching during the COVID-19 crisis
The department of Education and Social work launches a survey to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on student’s learning ability. This survey will be disseminated to all the students of the University of Luxembourg. The findings will help researchers to gain useful insights into weaknesses and strengths of imposed remote teaching.
Education & Social Work
The SciTeach Centre: A Hub for Innovation and Research in Science Education in Luxembourg
The SciTeach Centre at the University of Luxembourg works with teachers and experts in science education to research innovative approaches to teaching science in the unique educational context of Luxembourg’s primary schools.