The BiB-Programme & Network: Doing Educational Research within School Practice
The University of Teacher Education Zurich (Switzerland) and the University of Education Karlsruhe (Germany) are jointly establishing a doctoral programme “Bildungsforschung im Berufsfeld” (BiB) (literally: “Educational Research in School Practice”). This doctoral programme is accompanied by the formation of the “BiB Network”.
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This network provides a framework for conceptual and methodological discussion and collaboration between researchers coming from different disciplinary academic backgrounds and at all career levels. Taken together, the BiB programme and network focus on pressing questions of educational research, aiming to increase practical relevance as well as methodological reflexivity of educational research.
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The development of BiB is financially supported by swissuniversities.
Information & Collaboration
If you would like to know more about the BiB doctoral programme and the BiB network, or if you would like to get involved, please email us at bib@phzh.ch. Among others, we encourage exchange with ...
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… doctoral students whose research projects are close to or in the professional field
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… supervisors of doctoral theses who want to exchange ideas, e.g. about tasks, challenges, and framework conditions for supervising and evaluating practice-related qualification theses
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… universities that want to learn more about the possibilities of participating in BiB
Some more background information on BiB
BiB addresses a central challenge of contemporary educational research. While the number of doctoral students who engage at the intersection of academic research and pedagogical practice is growing, there is a lack of frameworks and support that address the diverse and highly specific needs of this kind of educational research.
BiB addresses the resulting challenges and issue on two levels:
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The BiB doctoral programme offers doctoral candidates a structured framework for qualification, networking, and academic supervision tailored to practice-oriented research projects.
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The BiB network aims to create a space for academic exchange on methodological and conceptual issues of practice-oriented educational research, transcending established disciplinary and institutional boundaries as well as qualification levels.
As a joint initiative of two universities specialising in teacher education, BiB can draw on extensive experience in conducting highly practice-oriented research. Thematically and methodologically, BiB is deliberately open; the focus is on jointly examining the opportunities and challenges of intensive relations to professional practice during all stages of doing educational research.
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BiB Doctoral Programme
The BiB Doctoral Programme creates a structured framework for doctoral projects with a strong connection to professional practice. In addition to supervision at the participating universities, the programme offers a range of support activities tailored to the needs of different doctoral candidates (e.g. those working in third-party funded projects, part-time students, or those already employed at one of the universities). The planned programme components include:
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Academic qualification opportunities: Within the framework of BiB, a curriculum is being developed that addresses the methodological and practical research challenges of practice-oriented educational research.
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Integration into an active scientific network: Regular colloquia and workshops enable scientific exchange across qualification levels, contributing to critical reflection on one's own research.
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Collaborative supervision: Doctoral students in BiB are actively supported and supervised in collaboration with the participating universities.
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Support for scientific networking: To promote visibility and scientific exchange, the programme offers support for activities such as conference and peer visits to other universities.
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The BiB doctoral programme is currently being developed. We are currently piloting first initiatives and activities. We warmly invite prospective doctoral candidates and potential supervisors to participate in this development process and help shape the programme.
If you have any questions about participating in the BiB doctoral programme or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at bib@phzh.ch.
BiB Network
The BiB network aims to provide a framework for exchange and joint initiatives by researchers at all levels of academic qualification. The network focuses on conceptual, methodological, and policy-related topics concerning the relationships between research, practice, and politics in educational contexts.
The kick-off event for the BiB network took place on 9 and 10 October 2025 at the University of Teacher Education Zurich. During this two-day workshop, the first joint initiatives for 2026 were launched.
Coming major activities include the BiB-Conference “Evidence – Excellence – Relevance? Current Perspectives on the Contested Relations between Research, Practice, and Politics” which will take place in Zurich, 18-19 February 2027.
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If you are interested, you'll find our Call for Papers here
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The following professorships are currently actively involved in the development of BiB:
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University of Teacher Education Karlsruhe:
University of Teacher Education Zurich:
Prof. Dr. Kenneth Horvath (Leitung)
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If you are interested in knowing more, please contact us via email (bib@phzh.ch).
