Our research projects are dedicated to current social issues and focus on practice-oriented research in order to develop innovative solutions. We pursue a variety of approaches that address the specific challenges of digital transformation and other relevant topics in the education sector.
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Educational innovations
The spread of digital technologies is a major challenge for the education system. The consistent digitalization of schools, universities and other educational institutions is being called for in the context of education policy discourse, while a paradigmatic change in forms of work and organization is taking place in internal educational units (e.g. personnel development) under the banner of 'digital transformation', and media skills are becoming a basic qualification for educational staff.
The successful digitalization of the education system will increasingly require specialists in the future, be they teachers and people working in continuing education with media didactic skills, personnel and organizational developers who use the potential of technology in corporate education and knowledge work or education managers who are able to develop new educational formats and establish them on the market. The research cluster for educational innovation at the FHD addresses these developments by conducting research in the field of digital education and offering market-oriented services. It also represents the interface between Dresden UAS and various scientific and practical partners from the field of digital education within the Dresden region.
Our research projects in the field of educational innovation deal with the digital transformation of educational institutions and examine how they react to the challenges of digitalization. A particular focus is on the development and application of media didactics and pedagogy in order to design new digital teaching and learning formats in the spirit of Education 4.0. We are also researching new business and operating models in education, such as open education, and their impact on the educational landscape. Another focus is on the design of transitions between educational phases and areas as well as the promotion of lifelong learning with digital educational media. It also examines how gamification and game-based learning can offer innovative approaches for continuing education.
Our research projects
GATE:VET - using GAmification in TEaching at VET schools
The Erasmus+ project aims to develop an innovative qualification and communication platform for the use of gamification elements in vocational education and training. By providing best-practice examples on a user-friendly platform, teachers should be able to easily integrate playful learning methods into their lessons. A particular focus is on intuitive usability to enable teachers to get started without a great deal of training. Lack of time is a major hurdle for teachers - this is exactly where GATE:VET comes in. Building a sustainable online community ensures that the platform remains alive and is continuously expanded even after the end of the project.
HotelAcademy
As part of the Erasmus+-funded “HotelAcademy” project, Dresden University of Applied Sciences is developing innovative teaching concepts for hospitality management together with partner universities from France and Cyprus. The aim is to create a future-oriented framework that combines modern digital educational technologies such as VR-supported cooperation formats, mobile learning support and business games. The cross-university collaboration will test practical and interactive learning formats that optimally prepare students for the challenges of the industry. The project runs from September 2019 to December 2021 and is funded with EUR 68,488. HotelAcademy is creating a model for digital teaching innovations in the hotel industry that can be applied throughout Europe.
School absenteeism
More and more young people are not finding a place in the existing school system - the number of early school leavers is rising continuously throughout Germany. In Saxony, around 8.5 percent of all school leavers in 2018 did not graduate. At the same time, proceedings for unexcused absences are increasing dramatically. Against this backdrop, the FHD supports the Dresden Youth Welfare Office in developing sustainable strategies against truancy. A central focus is on evaluating the street school run by Treberhilfe Dresden e.V., which offers young people alternative educational paths through socio-educational support. In addition, the FHD supports the “Fachstelle Schulabsentismus” and contributes to the networking of relevant stakeholders through scientific analyses.
DOmIcILE-VR - Digital training courses in the real estate industry using virtual reality
The DOmIcILE-VR project is developing a digital training program for the real estate industry that uses virtual reality to provide practical training. The aim is to qualify real estate professionals and career changers through an interactive, location-independent VR learning environment. In a realistic 3D model of an apartment, participants train how to inspect and hand over a property - from identifying defects to professional communication. Virtual role-playing games allow tenants and landlords to switch roles flexibly and test out conflict situations. This strengthens the ability to act and reduces typical sources of error. Companies benefit from efficient, online-supported training without long downtimes.
DiBBLoK - Diffusion of digital technologies in vocational education and training through cooperation between learning venues
DiBBLoK researches how digital technologies can be successfully integrated into vocational education and training - in particular through cooperation between vocational schools, companies and learners. The aim is to identify factors that promote and hinder digitalization and to develop practical solutions. Digital media offer great potential for networking learning locations, creating a common information base and improving communication. The project investigates what influence management structures have on the implementation of digital processes and what role they play as drivers or obstacles. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used. By working closely with universities and research institutions, DiBBLoK contributes to the sustainable digitalization of vocational training and supports innovative training processes.
