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Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics, and Business Administration

Chair of Economics and Business Education (Prof. Dr. Silvia Annen)

  1.  University of bamberg
  2. Faculties
  3. Social Sciences, Economics and Business Administration
  4. Subjects and Institutes
  5. Economics and Business Education
  6. Chair of Economics and Business Education (Prof. Dr. Silvia Annen)
  7. Research
  8. Current Projects

Current Projects

EDU-LAB – European Youth in Education and Transition to the Labour Market

Short description:

The EDU-LAB research project examines the factors influencing young people's (aged 15-30) education and transition pathways in Europe. The focus is on equity and inclusion in both general and vocational education and on transitions into the labour market. The goal is to develop comprehensive models of educational and transition pathways across European Education Area (EEA) countries and to analyse how policies and investments contribute to participation and completion in education.

EDU-LAB systematically investigates determinants shaping choices, pathways, and transitions, considering structural and individual factors. The project assesses policies and investments in general and vocational education, evaluates their efficiency, and examines their impact on inclusion and equity. A mixed-methods approach integrates secondary data analyses, expert interviews, case studies, and participatory workshops. Key methods include regression and trend analysis, difference-in-differences analysis, and stakeholder engagement. 

The central questions of the project are:

  • What are typical educational paths and transitions into working life for young people?
  • What structural and individual factors influence them?
  • How can the influence of these factors be measured?
  • How good are the measures taken to support the transitions between education and working life?

The project is funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA). The project duration is from January 2025 to December 2027.

The project is conducted by an international consortium of universities and research institutions from Austria, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Finland, Poland, Kosovo, and the United Kingdom.

Further information: https://www.edu-lab-project.eu

Contact person: Melanie Hochmuth

 

VR-intense

Short description:
VR offers universities the opportunity to create virtual spaces and use them as MakerSpaces for innovative higher education. VR enables students to engage in immersive, cross-border learning experiences across Europe while supporting universities in integrating new teaching and learning methods. The VR-intense project seizes this opportunity by aiming to develop innovative virtual reality learning environments in higher education. VR-intense addresses key challenges in higher education, including the acquisition of practical skills, the development of soft skills, and the preparation of students for the job market.  

To achieve these objectives, the project develops and implements VR solutions. Specific learning scenarios and training programs are designed, programmed, tested, and evaluated. The project also focuses on representing universities and their study programs, enabling hands-on experiences for interested students and promoting educational mobility by virtually showcasing new educational and career pathways. The main themes include European Citizenship as well as economic, pedagogical, and engineering-related content. Additionally, the project explores how existing curricula and infrastructures can be adapted to the needs of an increasingly digital educational landscape while developing teaching and learning materials to support the use of VR in university courses.  

The project is funded by ERASMUS+ and runs from September 2024 to August 2027.  

Key objectives of the project:

- Introducing students to European universities and study programs through virtual excursions  
- Enhancing students' social and communication skills as well as their academic readiness  
- Offering immersive learning experiences on European Citizenship in seminars and lectures  
- Developing VR tools for virtual excursions and cross-border collaboration in Europe  

More Information: Kick-off for the ERASMUS+ Project VR-intense: Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Higher Education*  

Contact Person: Sabrina Sailer-Frank

SHIA

SHIA – Sports & Health Innovation Accelerator

Brief Description:
The Sports & Health Innovation Accelerator (SHIA) is a European initiative aimed at promoting innovation, digitalization, and sustainability in the sports and health sector. The project’s goal is to connect universities, vocational education providers, start-ups, companies, and public stakeholders within a shared innovation ecosystem to develop forward-looking solutions for prevention, active lifestyles, and sustainable sports structures.

SHIA follows an innovative hybridization strategy: at the intersection of sport, health, and technology, new business models, digital applications, and sustainable approaches are developed, tested, and scaled. By systematically linking research, education, and entrepreneurship, a transnational innovation environment is created that enables knowledge transfer, pools resources, and generates lasting impact.

Within a structured acceleration program, training formats, digital learning environments, and practice-oriented challenges are developed and implemented. These address key action areas such as green sports, digital technologies in sports and health, innovation in grassroots sports, as well as active living and prevention strategies. The program is complemented by mentoring, piloting of innovative solutions, and the creation of a European network (“Sports & Health Tech Villages”) to foster international cooperation.

The project is funded under the ERASMUS+ program (Alliances for Innovation, Key Action 2). The project duration is three years.

Key objectives of the project include:

  • Developing an innovative training and acceleration model for sports and health
  • Promoting collaboration between universities, vocational education, and labor market actors
  • Supporting and accelerating start-ups as well as innovative solution approaches
  • Integrating digital technologies into sports science and health applications
  • Strengthening sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the sports sector
  • Building a European innovation network with at least 200 relevant stakeholders
  • Developing a long-term strategy for the sustainable embedding of project results

More Information
Further information about the project and participation opportunities is available upon request. Click HERE(2.2 MB, 3 pages) for the latest newsletter.

Contacts: Sabrina Sailer-Frank, Silvia Annen