Research Orientation at EHB

EHB has an active network of regional, national, and international cooperation partners. This includes organizations from the fields of education, social work, and healthcare, as well as foundations and other universities. These cooperative relationships form the foundation for many research activities, but particularly for the transfer activities carried out by EHB.

The close connection between research and teaching is a hallmark of EHB. This is realized through cooperative relationships with the aforementioned practical partners in the form of Service Learning, directly within the respective institutions and addressing questions that arise from practice. Additionally, there are so-called teaching research projects in several courses. The value placed on student research is also reflected in the awarding of prizes for the best thesis projects from all Bachelor’s programs and the Master’s programs in Social Work as part of ehb.forscht.

In connection with efforts to further academicize the SAGE disciplines, the support of early-career researchers is also a key focus at EHB. Although this has played a secondary role in the past due to the university not having the right to award doctorates, several professors at the university have been involved in supervising dissertations through cooperative doctoral programs for years. Additionally, the amendment to the Berlin Higher Education Act (BerlHG) in 2021 has now created the possibility for EHB to obtain the right to award doctorates.

To ensure research quality and promote research activities, several committees have been established at EHB:

• The Commission for Research, Transfer, and Early-Career Researchers is responsible for the strategic development of the research sector and the support of early-career researchers, particularly concerning doctoral opportunities.
• The Ethics Commission reviews research projects upon request, assessing the protection of the legitimate interests of individuals involved in the research.
• The Investigation Commission and Ombudspersons ensure compliance with good scientific practice at EHB and serve as contact points for related concerns and suspected violations.

In recent years, several communication formats have been established for internal knowledge transfer at the university:

• Research Day is an internal forum held annually, providing university members with the opportunity to gain insights into ongoing research projects conducted at EHB.
• The Research Workshop offers a space for collaborative work on questions related to ongoing or planned projects. It supports activities such as drafting third-party funding applications and analyzing empirical data.
• Additional workshops and information events provide university members with introductions to various topics, such as the basics of Open Access publishing, successful grant writing, and the internationalization of research through collaborations.

Three affiliated institutes are connected to EHB. As recognized non-profit institutions, they transfer scientific knowledge into practical expertise and bring practical experience back to the university. The institutes offer advanced training, continuing education, and workshops, conduct practice-oriented research, provide consulting for organizations, and organize conferences and symposiums. Additionally, they serve as an important resource for applying for and conducting research projects.