Research and development contributes to the academic discourse on education, schools and teaching, adding to the disciplinary development of the knowledge base for the teaching professions. It lays the foundations that are key to the ongoing development of the teaching profession, school environment and educational institutions. Research at PH Zurich is divided across three departments.

Research on education sciences

The Research on Education Sciences examines educational processes and teaching practice in their social contexts. The department considers, for example, the questions of how social, political and technological developments help shape the educational system, how family and institutional educational processes interact, and which psychosocial factors and dynamics influence learning at school. The research centres fall under the department.

Research on teaching professions and education systems

The Research on Teaching Professions and Education Systems investigates the structural framework and developments of the teaching profession and the educational system. Through its research, it looks into how teachers achieve professionalism and acquire skills and examines the role that a person and their environment play when they are studying, starting out in their career and working as an experienced teacher. Further research investigates how they contribute to creating a professional environment with rules and standards as well as how development processes come about and can be successful in the context of school settings. The research centres fall under the department.

Research on subject-specific education

The Department for Research on Subject-Specific Education looks at teaching and learning processes. Taking the specific characteristics of different subjects as the starting point, it investigates the foundations of subject-specific learning in schools and key aspects of teaching quality. The research groups fall under the department.

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