Higher Education Research

Higher education research focusses on the specialists and managers of tomorrow and on their early career development. The working world is rapidly changing and, therefore, requires students not only to develop a specialized knowledge. In addition, they have to acquire competences which allow them to master all challenges of their career start and their following professional life. In this context, our research is concerned with institutional frameworks (e.g. offers of assistance in the orientation week) on the one hand. On the other hand, we examine individual factors (e.g. resilience, students’ networks) that function as catalysators for academic success and satisfaction as well as barriers that universities and students have to overcome in this regard.

Current projects (selection):

• 2019-2024: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research - project TU4Teachers

• 2018-2021: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (MWK) - project "CHO1CE+", in cooperation with the Central Student Advisory Service at TU Braunschweig.

• Since 2014 TU Braunschweig - Project "SCOUT: Promoting networking between international and German students", single applicant, realization in cooperation with the International Office, TU Braunschweig
• Since 2012 Project „Fit4TU – das Online Self-Assessment für Studieninteressierte der TU Braunschweig“ [The Online Self-Assesment for TU Braunschweig Prospective Students] (2nd project phase), BMBF Project, stabilized by long-term student fees, in cooperation with the TU Braunschweig Student Advice Centre

Concluded projects (selection):

• 2019-2020: Inter-AA-Lab: Interdisziplinäres arbeitswissenschaftliches und arbeitspsychologisches Labor (SQM)
• 2019-2020: ALMA Mater: Angewandte Lehre möglich machen mit Alumni (BMBF; teach4TU)
• 2017-2018: Long-term Student Project in the Life Sciences in coorporation with the Institute for Biology, TU Braunschweig
• 2017-2018 SQM - Project "CHO1CE: Du hast die Wahl - Wege ins Studium für die First Generation öffnen" (2nd project phase), realization in cooperation with central Student Advisory Service, TU Braunschweig
• 2017-2018 SQM-Project "iSCOR: Interdisciplinary Studio for Communicational and Observational Research" (1. Projektphase), in cooperation with the Institute of Sustainable Urbanism, TU Braunschweig
• 2015-2016: SQM-Project „Theory in Action - Flipped Classroom in der Arbeitspsychologie“, within the support programme in medias res
• 2015-2016: NTH - Projekt "Studienabbrecher": Analyse der Bausteine in der Orientierungsphase zur Reduktion der Studienabbrecher und zur Erhöhung des Studienerfolgs an den NTH-Universitäten (LU Hannover, TU Clausthal & TU Braunschweig) und Implementierung einer Maßnahme, Durchführung in Kooperation mit der LU Hannover und der TU Clausthal
• 2014-2017 Ministry of Science and Culture, Lower Saxony (MWK) - Project "CHO1CE: Du hast die Wahl - Wege ins Studium für die First Generation öffnen.", single applicant, realization in cooperation with central Student Advisory Service, TU Braunschweig
• 2014-2015 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research - joint project/innovative project "Round Table Education" integrated in "teach4TU - Lehren lernen im Team", in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Klaus Dröder, TU Braunschweig
• 2013-2016 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research - projekt „Quo vadis Post-Doc: professorship or free economy? Individual, social, and organizational factors that predict career development and career success among young academics (Pro-Wi+)", in cooperation with Dr. Daniel Spurk
• 2012-2013  German Federal Ministry of Education and Research - project "ProNet+ - with Networking to the top", single applicant
• 2010-2013: DAAD – „Qualifizierung von Incoming Studierenden“
• 2010: DAAD – „Konzeption und Durchführung von Interkulturellen Trainings für ausländische Studierende"
• 2009-2013: DGB – Schlüsselqualifikation mit Praxiseinsatz – „Handlungsbezogene Kompetenzen in der Jugendbildungsarbeit“
• 2009-2010: DAAD – „Zur Wirksamkeit bilingualer Tutorien im Maschinenbau“
• 2008-2011: Zentrale Förderung der TU Braunschweig – „Handlungsbezogene Kompetenzen“

Contributions to journals and textbooks

2022

Stasewitsch, E., Barthauer, L., & Kauffeld, S. (2022). Knowledge Transfer in a Two-Mode Network Between Higher Education Teachers and Their Innovative Teaching Projects. Journal of Learning Analytics, 9(1), 93-110.

Powazny, S., Zorn, V., & Kauffeld, S. (2022). How Peers’ Informedness Contributes to Students’ Person-Environment Fit. European Journal of Higher Education, 12(2).

2021

Wittner, B. & Kauffeld, S. (2021). Social capital and career planning amongst first generation and non-first generation high school and college students in Germany: a social network analysis approach. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09513-z

Bargmann, C., Thiele, L., & Kauffeld, S. (2021). Motivation matters: predicting students’ career decidedness and intention to drop out after the first year in higher education. Higher Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10734-021-00707-6 (free download)

Kauffeld, S. & Spurk, D. (in press). Why Does Psychological Capital Foster Subjective and Objective Career Success? The Mediating Role of Career-Specific Resources. Journal of Career Assessment.

Stasewitsch, E., Barthauer, L. & Kauffeld, S. (in sub.). Diffusion of educational innovations in two-mode networks: Connecting HE teachers through innovative teaching projects. Manuscript in submission.

Stasewitsch, E., Dokuka, S. & Kauffeld, S. (in prep.). Is it worth the trouble? Development and diffusion of educational innovations through social networks - analysis of an organization development program in the field of higher education. Manuskript in submission.

Stasewitsch, E., Zorn, V. & Kauffeld, S. (in sub.). Social network analysis as an effective evaluation method – an application in higher education teaching innovations. Manuscript in submission.

2020

Aymans, S. C., Kortsch, T., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Gender and career optimism—The effects of gender‐specific perceptions of lecturer support, career barriers and self‐efficacy on career optimism. Higher Education Quarterly, 74(3), 273-289, https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12238

Kauffeld, S., Reining, N., & Herrmann, C. (2020). On the Use of Learning Factories in Higher German Engineering Education. Application-Oriented Higher Education Research, 5(2), 30-37.

Powazny, S., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). The impact of influential otherson student teachers’ dropout intention – a network analytical study. European Journal of Teacher Education. doi:10.1080/02619768.2020.1793949

Stasewitsch, E. & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Der Inno-Lehre: Ein Inventar zur Messung von innovativem Lehr-Lernklima an Hochschulen. Diagnostica 66. doi: 10.1026/0012-1924/a000256

2019

Ebner, K. & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Laufbahngestaltung durch Karrierecoaching - Abgrenzung, Methodeneinsatz und Forschungsstand [Career management through career coaching - Definition, methods and state of research]. In S. Kauffeld & D. Spurk (Eds.), Handbuch Karriere und Laufbahnmanagement (p. 759-784). Berlin: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-45855-6_28-1

Jordan, S., & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Laufbahnberatung für SchülerInnen und Studierende [Career advice for pupils and students]. In S. Kauffeld & D. Spurk (Eds.), Handbuch Karriere und Laufbahnmanagement (p. 85-108). Berlin: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-48750-1_3

Kauffeld, S., Herrmann, C., Heuer, K., Pulst, S. & Kühne, M. (2019). GLuE – Gemeinsam Lernen und Erfahren. Eine innovative und interdisziplinäre Lehr-Lern-Kooperation [GLuE - Learning and Experiencing together. An innovative and interdisciplinary teaching-learning-coorporation]. In S. Robra-Bissantz, O. J. Bott, N. Kleinefeld, K. Neu & K. Zickwolf (Eds.), Teaching Trends 2018. Die Präsenzhochschule und die digitale Transformation, 7(S. 36–42). Münster: Waxmann

Kauffeld, S., Spurk, D., Barthauer, L., & Kaucher, P. (2019). Auf dem Weg zur Professur? Laufbahnen im wissenschaftlichen Kontext [On the way to professorship? Careers in a scientific context]. In S. Kauffeld & D. Spurk (Eds.), Handbuch Karriere und Laufbahnmanagement (p. 291-325). Berlin: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-48750-1_10

Kauffeld, S. & Zorn, V. (2019). Evaluationen nutzen - ergebnis-, prozess- und entwicklungsbezogen [Using evaluation - outcome, process, and development oriented approaches]. Handbuch Qualität in Studium, Lehre und Forschung, 67, 37-62.

Reining, N., Höwing, F., Thiede, B., Herrmann, C. & Kauffeld S. (2019). Lernen in einer neuen Dimension? – Eine Gegenüberstellung von AR-Anwendung und Tablet-App im fabriknahen Lernkontext [Learning in a new dimension? - A comparison between AR-applications and tablet-apps in a factory-like learning context]. In Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft e.V., Dortmund (Hrsg.), Arbeit interdisziplinär: analysieren – bewerten – gestalten (Beitrag C.6.5). Dortmund: GfA-Press.

Reining, N., Kauffeld, S. & Herrmann, C. (2019). Students' interactions: Using video data as a mean to identify competences addressed in learning factories. Procedia Manufacturing 31, 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.promfg.2019.03.001

Reining, N., Müller-Frommeyer, L. C., Höwing, F., Thiede, B., Aymans, S. C., Herrmann, C. & Kauffeld S. (2019). Evaluation neuer Lehr-Lern-Medien in einer Lernfabrik: Eine Usability-Studie zu App- und AR-Anwendungen [Evaluating new teaching-learning-media in a learning factory: A usability study on apps and AR-applications]. In S. Robra-Bissantz, O. J. Bott, N. Kleinefeld, K. Neu & K. Zickwolf (Eds.), Teaching Trends 2018. Die Präsenzhochschule und die digitale Transformation, 7 (S. 146-152). Münster: Waxmann.

Thiele, L., & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Online Self-Assessments zu Studien- und Universitätswahl [Online self-assessment for choice of study and university]. In S. Kauffeld & D. Spurk (Eds.), Handbuch Karriere und Laufbahnmanagement (p.109-132). Berlin: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-48750-1_4

Thiele, L. & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Study orientation with help of Fit4TU - the online self-assessments of TU Braunschweig. Zeitschrift Empirische Pädagogik.

Wittner, B., Powazny S., & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Supporting Rita – A social cognitive approach to (First Generation) Students’ retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice. doi: doi.org/10.1177%2F1521025119882358

Wittner, B., Schulte, E.-M., Sauer, N. & Kauffeld, S. (2019). Theory in Action: eine Vorlesung als Inverted Classroom [Theory in Action: A lecture as inverted classroom]. In S. Kauffeld & J. Othmer (Hrsg.), Handbuch innovative Lehre (S. 127-139). Berlin: Springer.

2018

Ebner, K., Thiele, L., Spurk, D., & Kauffeld, S. (2018). Validation of the German Career Decision-Making Profile - an Updated 12-Factor Version. Journal of Career Assessment, 26(1), 111-136. doi:10.1177/1069072716679996

Sauer, N. C., Barthauer, L., & Kauffeld, S. (2018). Effektive Meetings im Hochschulkontext: Wie Sie Interaktionsstrukturen nutzen und als Broker agieren können  [Designing meetings more effective: How to use interaction structures and act as a broker]. Personal in Hochschule und Wissenschaft entwickeln, 1-2018, 73-83.

Thiele, L., Atzmueller, M., Stumme, G., & Kauffeld, S. (2018). Frequent and/or durable? The predictive impact of initial face-to-face contacts on the formation and evolution of students’ developmental peer network relationships. Psychology, 9, 633-654. doi:10.4236/psych.2018.94040

Thiele, L., Sauer, N. C., Atzmueller, M., & Kauffeld, S. (2018). The co-evolution of career aspirations and peer relationships in psychology bachelor students: A longitudinal social network study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 106, 48-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.12.005

2017

Aymans, S., Friese, H. & Kauffeld, S. (2017). Bildung ohne Grenzen - eine vergleichende Interviewstudie zu Kompetenzen und zur Gestaltung der Lehre mit Fakultätsmitarbeitenden im Kontext der deutsch-indischen Mobilität. [Education without borders - a comparing study on competences and for improvement of teaching with faculty members in the context of German-Indian mobility] Interculture Journal, 17(29), 61-80.

Jordan, S., Wittner, B., & Kauffeld, S. (2017). „CHO1CE – Du hast die Wahl“ – Ein Projekt an der Technischen Universität Braunschweig ["CHO!CE - you have the choice! - A project of the Technical University Braunschweig]. In J. Grunau & M. Buse (Eds.), Wege ins Studium für First Generation Students. Theoretisch-konzeptionelle Bezüge und projektspezifische Erfahrungen (173-195). Detmold: Eusl.

Meinecke, A. L., Müller-Frommeyer, L. C., Klauke, F., & Kauffeld, S. (2017). Ansatzpunkte zur erfolgreichen Begleitung und Vernetzung internationaler Studierender: Einblicke in das SCOUT–Programm an der TU Braunschweig [A starting point to successfully support and connect international students: Insights into the SCOUT programme at TU Braunschweig]. Interculture Journal, 27-28, 117–129.

2016

Barthauer, L., Spurk, D., & Kauffeld, S. (2016). Women's Social Capital in Academia: A Personal Network Analysis. International Review of Social Research, 6(4), 195-205.

2015

Aymans, S. C. & Kauffeld, S. (2015). To leave or not to leave? Critical factors for university dropout among first generation students. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung, 10, 23-43.

Spurk, D., Meinecke, A. L., Kauffeld, S. & Volmer, J. (2015). Gender, professional networks, and subjective career success within early academic science careers: The role of gender composition in inside and outside departmental support networks. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 14, 121-130. doi:10.1027/1866-5888/a000131