Melissa Laufer, Dr. (on parental leave)
Melissa Laufer is head of the research program “Knowledge & Society” at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Through an interdisciplinary lens, Melissa investigates digitalization processes occurring in the science system and larger society. She is particularly passionate about the role technology plays in higher education and has published her research in numerous international journals.
Melissa completed her doctorate in sociology at Ghent University (Belgium). In her dissertation, she explored the role university culture plays in the internationalization of higher education. Specifically, her research focused on change communication at the university, academic mobility, and academic careers. Previously, she earned a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication & European Studies at the Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Germany). She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon (USA), where she studied International Studies, German and Anthropology.
Prior to joining HIIG, Melissa worked as a researcher at York University (Canada), in an internationally comparative project that examined the post-study pathways of international students. From 2014 – 2018, Melissa held a research position at the Centre for Higher Education Governance Ghent at Ghent University. During her doctorate, Melissa was awarded several mobility scholarships and was a visiting scholar at the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), the National Chengchi University (Taiwan), and the Center for International Higher Education (Boston College). She is also a member of Early Career Higher Education Researchers (ECHER), the Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung, and the ECPR Standing Group – Knowledge Politics & Policies.
Science & educationOrganisational Resilience and Creativity: Exploring the Future of Educational Technology
How can educational technology be creatively contribute to building resilient universities and equip them to cope with future change?
Science & educationOrganisational Adaptivity in the German Higher Education Context
In this project, we investigate the digitalisation of higher education, with a focus placed on exploring the implementation of teaching and learning innovations.
Journal articles and conference proceedings
Laufer, M., Kuper, F., Deacon, B., Sievering, M., & Schäfer, L. O. (2025). Strategic ambiguities: exploring the role of digitalisation strategies in university teachers’ engagement with educational technology. European Journal of Higher Education, 1-19. DOI: 10.1080/21568235.2025.2486788 Publication details
Deacon, B., Laufer, M., Mende, M. A., Tschache, T., & Schäfer, L. O. (2025). Resisting digital change at the university: an exploration into triggers and organisational countermeasures. European Journal of Higher Education, 1–24. DOI: 10.1080/21568235.2025.2512735 Publication details
Laufer, M., Schäfer, L.O., Kuper, F., Deacon, B. (2025). Building resilient and creative universities: exploring the new normal for eight universities across Europe. Discover Education, 4. DOI: 10.1007/s44217-025-00580-w Publication details
Laufer, M., Deacon, B., Mende, M.A., & Schaefer, L.O. (2024). Leading with Trust: How University Leaders can Foster Innovation with Educational Technology through Organizational Trust. Innovative Higher Education. DOI: 10.1007/s10755-024-09733-5 Publication details
Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or foe? Exploring the implications of large language models on the science system. AI & Society, 38. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-023-01791-1 Publication details
Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., & Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or foe? Exploring the implications of large language models on the science system. AI & Soc. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-023-01791-1 Publication details
Timm, M., Deacon, B., Laufer, M, Schäfer, L. O. & Tschache, T. (2022). Atomisierung, Innovation und Organisation: Qualität der Lehre im ersten Digitalsemester. In M.Bigos, J. Hiebl, & I. Steinhardt (Eds.). Soziologische Betrachtungen zur Digitalisierung der Lehre (in der COVID-19-Pandemie) [Special issue] die hochschullehre, 8(28), 395-408. DOI: 10.3278/HSL2228W Publication details
Sabzalieva, E., El Masri, A., Joshi, A., Laufer, M., Trilokekar, R. & Haas, C. (2022). Ideal immigrants in name only? Shifting constructions and divergent discourses on the international student-immigration policy nexus in Australia, Canada, and Germany. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 6(2), 178-204. DOI: 10.1080/23322969.2022.2096106 Publication details
Deacon, B., Laufer, M. & Schäfer, L. O. (2022). Infusing Educational Technologies in the Heart of the University – A Systematic Literature Review from an Organisational Perspective. British Journal of Educational Technology, 0(0), 1-26. DOI: 10.1111/bjet.13277 Publication details
Huisman, J., Vlegels, J., Daenekindt, S., Seeber, M. & Laufer, M. (2021). How satisfied are international students? The role of town, gown and motivations. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. DOI: 10.1080/03057925.2020.1867826 Publication details
Laufer, M., Leiser, A., Deacon, B., Perrin de Brichambaut, P., Fecher, B., Kobsoda, C., & Hesse, F. (2021). Digital higher education: A divider or bridge builder? Leadership perspectives on EdTech in a COVID-19 reality. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(51). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239‐021‐00287‐6 Publication details
Elsholz, U., Fecher, B., Deacon, B., Schäfer, L.O., & Laufer, M. (2021). Implikationen der Covid-19-Pandemie für digitale Lehre: Organisierte Freiheit als Veränderungsparadigma. MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie Und Praxis Der Medienbildung, 40(CoViD-19), 472-86. DOI: 10.21240/mpaed/40/2021.11.29.X Publication details
Laufer, M. (2020). Crossing academic borders: exploring the role of social capital in academic hiring. Comparative Education, 56(3). DOI: 10.1080/03050068.2020.1782603 Publication details
Laufer, M. (2019). Spinning stories: Communicating internationalization through organizational storytelling. Journal of Studies in International Education, 1-15. DOI: 10.1177/1028315319893652 Publication details
Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2019). The invisible Others: stories of international doctoral student drop-out. Higher Education, 78(1), 165-181. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-018-0337-z Publication details
Book contributions and chapters
Schäfer, L. O., Deacon, B. & Laufer, M. (2023). Die Rolle der Digitalisierungsstrategien bei der Implementierung digitaler Lehre. In Lorenz Mrohs, Julia Franz, Dominik Herrmann, Konstantin Lindner & Thorsten Staake (Eds.), Digitale Kulturen der Lehre entwickeln. Perspektiven der Hochschuldidaktik. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43379-6_3 Publication details
Laufer, M. Deacon, B. & Schäfer, L. O. (2022). The Power of Informal Networks: How Middle Management, Central Leadership and Trust can Impact Innovation at the University. In F. W. Hesse, C. Kobsda & C. Schemmann, Digital Transformation of Higher Education—Global Learning Report 2022. (pp. 21-23). Berlin: Global Learning Council (GLC), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD), Times Higher Education (THE). DOI: 10.21241/ssoar.79627 Publication details
Laufer, M. (2017). Learning from Others, not about Others: investigating intercultural learning and intercultural competence in the university classroom. In R. Bettmann, V. Hinnenkamp, A. Satola & N. Schröer (Eds.), Die Hochschule als interkultureller Aushandlungsraum: Eine Bildungs-Exploration am Beispiel eines internationalen Studiengangs (pp. 181-199). Wiesbaden: Springer. Publication details
Bettmann, R., Hinnenkamp, V., Laufer, M. & Schröer, N. (2017). Interkulturelle Gruppenarbeit als Herausforderung. Vermeidungsstrategien und Chancen. In R. Bettmann, V. Hinnenkamp, A. Satola & N. Schröer (Eds.), Die Hochschule als interkultureller Aushandlungsraum: Eine Bildungs-Exploration am Beispiel eines internationalen Studiengangs (pp. 65-87). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. Publication details
Laufer, M. (2017). Breaking the code: exploring how academics secure employment abroad. In A. Woldegiyorgis, L. Rumbley & H. De Wit (Eds.), The Boston College Center for International Higher Education Year in Review, 2016 – 2017, 6 (pp. 25-27). Boston: Boston College Center for International Higher Education. Publication details
Other publications
Deacon, B., & Laufer, M. (2024). Resistance to change: Challenges and opportunities in digital higher education. Digital society blog. Publication details
Laufer, M., Kuper, F., Mende, M. A., Schäfer, L. O., Tschache T., & Deacon, B. (2023). Organizing Digital Change at the University. The Practitioners’ Field Guide for Implementing Educational Technology. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or Foe? Exploring the Implications of Large Language Models on the Science System. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Publication details
Laufer, M., Mende, M., & Sievering, M. (2023). EdTech: The secret to its implementation. Digital society blog. Publication details
Deacon, B., Laufer, M. & Sokolovska, N. (2022). Sharing knowledge: Impact of Covid-19 on digital teaching. Digital society blog. Publication details
Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2020). Transferring research to practice: Exploring post-publication possibilities. ECHER Blog. Publication details
Laufer, M. & Deacon, B. (2020). The rapid digital turn: How are universities faring? Digital Society Blog. Publication details
Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2019). The invisible Others: stories of international doctoral student dropout. Supervising PhDs. Publication details
Laufer, M. (2016). Narrative Turn. Thema Hoger Onderwijs, 23 (1), 111-112. Publication details
Huisman, J., Brockerhoff, L. & Laufer, M. (2015). Quality in higher education: A literature review. Scoping Report for the Dutch Education Council. Publication details
Lectures and presentations
Resisting Digital Change at Higher Education Institutions: Identifying Triggers and CountermeasuresCHER 36th Annual Conference. University of Luxembourg, Esch an der Alzette, Luxemburg: 05.09.2024
Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer, Maricia Aline Mende
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Resilience and Edtech at the UniversityECPR General Conference 2024. University College Dublin. University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland: 12.08.2024 Further information
Freia Kuper, Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer, Maricia Aline Mende, Marvin Sievering
Sensemaking and the future university: Exploring the role digitalization strategies play for university teachers’ engagement with EdTech40th EGOS Colloquium - Crossroads for Organizations: Time, Space, and People. EGOS. University of Milan-Bicocca, Mailand, Italien: 05.07.2024
Bronwen Deacon, Freia Kuper, Melissa Laufer, Marvin Sievering, Len Ole Schäfer
Ein Diskurs über Verantwortung - Krise, Resilienz und EdTech an HochschulenUniversity:Future Festival 2024 - Tales of Tomorrow. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland: 05.06.2024 Further information
Maricia Aline Mende, Marvin Sievering, Bronwen Deacon, Freia Kuper, Melissa Laufer
The intersection of resilience, creativity and edtech: A conceptual framework for universities39th EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies) colloquium. University of Cagliari. Online, Cagliari, Italy: 06.07.2023 Further information
Melissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer, Freia Kuper, & Bronwen Deacon
How to Organize Edtech at the University: A Practitioner's Field Guide for Implementing EdtechUniversity:Future Festival 2023. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 27.04.2023 Further information
Melissa Laufer, Freia Kuper, Maricia Aline Mende, Len Ole Schäfer & Tiana Tschache.
Die Rolle der Digitalisierungsstrategien bei der Implementierung und dem Erhalt digitaler LehreSymposium. Digitale Kulturen der Lehre entwickeln. (Session: Rahmenbedingungen digitaler Lehre). University of Bamberg. University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany: 07.10.2022 Further information
Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer
Leadership in Digital Change: An exploration of organizational trust and innovation in universities44th Annual EAIR Forum 2022. Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST), Malta. Online, Paola, Malta: 06.09.2022 Further information
Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, & Len Ole Schäfer
Organizational conditions and dynamics of digital teaching.Academic Practice and Technology (APT): Shaping academic practice through diversity and flexibility. UCL, LSE, Imperial College London, Kingston University & Queen Mary University London. Online, London, UK: 01.07.2022 Further information
Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon, & Melissa Laufer
Paper presentation: When Doctoral Advisors Become Adversaries: Doctoral Student Accounts of Relationships with Advisors Gone WrongSociety for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting. Society for Applied Anthropology. Online, Salt Lake City, UT, USA: 22.03.2022 Further information
Meta Gorup, Melissa Laufer
Qualität in der digitalen Lehre – Eine Untersuchung von EinflussfaktorenTagung der Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung 2021. Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung. Online, Siegen, Germany: 16.09.2021 Further information
Moritz Timm, Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer
Enge und lose Kopplungen in der Hochschule – Die COVID-19 Pandemie und digitale LehreSoziologische Betrachtungen zur Digitalisierung der Lehre (in der COVID-19-Pandemie). DIPF | Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation. Online, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: 10.09.2021 Further information
Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer, Moritz Timm, Melissa Laufer
The Rapid Digital Turn: An Exploration into the Tight and Loose Coupling of University Structures [paper presentation]43rd Annual EAIR Forum 2021: Transformation Fast and Slow: Quality, Trust and Digitalisation in Higher Education.. Humboldt University of Berlin. Online, Berlin, Germany: 10.09.2021 Further information
Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer, Melissa Laufer
Re-imagining higher education: Shifting gears and shifting visionsUNIVERSITY:FUTURE FESTIVAL - LEARNING, SYSTEMS AND THE NEW NORMAL. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 08.10.2020 Further information
Anne Leiser, Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, Christian Kobsda
Lehren in der Krise, Lernen aus der Krise? Erfolg & Verstetigung digitaler Lehr- und LerninnovationenUNIVERSITY:FUTURE FESTIVAL - LEARNING, SYSTEMS AND THE NEW NORMAL. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 07.10.2020 Further information
Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer
ECER 2018 (Session: The Changing Academic Profession: Exploring Hiring Stories of Academics). European Educational Research Association. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy: 04.09.2018 Further informationMelissa Laufer
40th Annual EAIR Forum 2018 (Session: Balancing the global with the local: a study of internationalization at a Taiwanese university). European Higher Education Society (EAIR). Central European University, Budapest, Hungary: 26.08.2018 Further informationMelissa Laufer
42nd Annual ASHE Conference 2017 (Session: The invisible others: stories of international doctoral student drop-out). Association for the Study of Higher Education. Marriott Marquis, Houston, TX, United States: 09.11.2017 Further informationMelissa Laufer & Meta Gorup
Annual Conference: Consortium for Higher Education Researchers (Session: Learning to swim in a new pond : exploring academic job securement abroad). Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). Jyväskylän Yliopisto, Helsinki, Finland: 28.08.2017 Further informationMelissa Laufer & Julie Birkholz
EAIE 28th Annual Conference 2016 (Session: The power of stories: interpretations of internationalization in university cultures). European Association for International Education. St George’s Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom: 13.09.2016Poster Presented
Annual Conference: Consortium for Higher Education Researchers (Session: The stories we tell: exploring how storytelling is used to legitimize internationalization at the university). Consortium for Higher Education Researchers. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom: 05.09.2016 Further informationMelissa Laufer & Jelle Mampaey
32nd EGOS Colloquium (Session: Unravelling the internationalization tale: exploring the legitimizing power of internationalization stories within university cultures). European Group of Organization Studies. University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy: 08.07.2016Melissa Laufer
Panels
SRHE Conference 2022, Mobilities in Higher Education. Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE). Online, London, UK: 05.12.2022 Further informationMelissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon
Moderation of workshops and panels
Channelling support for institutional internationalisation through storytellingEAIE 29th Annual Conference 2017. FIBES, Seville, Spain: 12.09.2017 Further information
Melissa Laufer
Organisation of events
The Rapid Digital Turn: An Exploration into the Tight and Loose Coupling of University StructuresUnderstanding Digital Transformations of Higher Education Teaching and Learning in the Nordics and Beyond. From 30.03.2021 to 31.07.2021. Online, Online, Online. Co-Organised by: Universities of Agder (Norway) Aarhus (Denmark) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) (International) Further information
Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon
Media appearances
Fear, loathing and ideology: Why academics resist edtech (01.04.2023). University World News
Further information
Why do some international doctoral students decide to drop out? (17.12.2018). ECHER Blog
Further information
Position
Head of Research Programme: Knowledge & Society
Contact
Topics: Digital Higher Education, Educational Technology, Digital Transformation of Universities