Academic Network on Youth Work
Fundamental concept
The idea of establishing the Academic Network on Youth Work (WKJ) was born from a desire to promote academic engagement with the topic of youth work and facilitate a debate on academic developments in teaching and research. This network is connected to the Federal Network on Youth Work (BKJ) and made its first public appearance at the Federal Congress on Youth Work in Nuremberg in 2021. The project is supported by the research partnership between the German Youth Institute (DJI) and TU Dortmund.
A brief introduction to the Academic Network
The Academic Network on Youth Work was established in a virtual meeting on 19 March 2021 and is currently under development. At present, the network is intended not to provide a firm, formalised framework with formal memberships but rather to offer a networking platform for all parties interested in the topic. A proposed requirement for the network’s events is that all attendees should have a university position relevant to the field of work or, alternatively, should be working towards or already hold a doctoral qualification in the field of youth work. Academics in all disciplines that engage with this topic area are welcome to attend.
Founding members of the Academic Network on Youth Work
Working groups of the Academic Network
Working groups have organised and agreed to continue working on the following topics:
- Internationalisation/Europeanisation/Comparative Youth Work
- Connections Between Academia and Practice
- Research
- Youth Work in times of social-ecological transformation
The Internationalisation working group has agreed to continue its work. Andreas Thimmel is the organiser of this working group. If you are interested in contributing, please contact Andreas Thimmel directly: andreas.thimmel@th-koeln.de
The Connections Between Academia and Practice working group is organised by Rolf Ahlrichs. Meetings are held via Zoom. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Rolf Ahlrichs directly: R.Ahlrichs@eh-ludwigsburg.de
The Research working group is working with the German Youth Institute (DJI) on a series of digital lectures in the Winter semester 2022/2023 and Summer semester 2023. If you are interested in contributing to this working group, please contact Wibke Riekmann directly: wibke.riekmann@medicalschool-hamburg.de
The working group "Youth Work in times of social-ecological transformation" connects researchers who are interested in this topic. Meetings are held via Zoom. Katrin Valentin is the organiser of this working group. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Katrin Valentin directly: katrin.valentin@evhn.de
Digital lecture series
The Academic Network on Youth Work, in partnership with the German Youth Institute (DJI), is hosting a series of digital lectures. These events provide an opportunity to learn about, discuss and debate the outcomes of research into youth work. These 90-minute events present the results of research into youth work, taking account of the methodological approaches used and links to theoretical concepts. The Academic Network and the German Youth Institute hope that this lecture series will boost the visibility of research into youth work and generate new momentum for theory and practice.
Coordinating Committee of the Academic Network
The Coordinating Committee of the Academic Network is currently composed of Rolf Ahlrichs (Protestant University of Applied Sciences Ludwigsburg), Julia Hallmann (TU Dortmund), Regina Münderlein (Kempten University of Applied Sciences), Wibke Riekmann (Medical School Hamburg), Holger Schmidt (Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts), Moritz Schwerthelm (University of Hamburg), Nicole Stollenwerk (FHM University of Applied Sciences, Cologne), Gunda Voigts (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences).
Interested in joining the Academic Network?
If you are interested in joining the Academic Network, please contact Julia Hallmann (julia.hallmann@tu-dortmund.de). We look forward to welcoming you!