Organisational Adaptivity in the German Higher Education Context
Organizational Adaptivity in the Higher Education Context (OrA) is a cooperation project with the FernUniversität in Hagen (CATALPA – Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics). The project investigates how institutions and their stakeholders (e.g. leadership, teaching, and administrative staff) implement digital teaching practices and ensure their adaptivity and longevity. The research project is designed to further our understanding of the digitalization of higher education as well as translate research findings into concrete recommendations for higher education practitioners through an Interactive Research Model and Knowledge Transfer Workshops. To this end, the project encompasses three empirical studies with two main topics.
Educational technology
Currently, we are conducting in-depth comparative case studies of higher education institutions which use educational technology to different degrees. Through a mixed-method design, we explore the organizational conditions – e.g. institutional leadership, communication, culture – that hinder and foster the implementation and sustainability of educational technology in different institutional and international settings.
The rapid turn in higher education
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted two empirical studies which examined national and international responses to the rapid digital turn in higher education. In the first study, we analyzed the experiences of instructors, working in various disciplines and German higher education institutions. Through their experiences, we identified commonly occurring as well as specific subject challenges related to online teaching in addition to institutional crisis management responses.
In the second study, we investigated, through the experiences of higher education leaders at universities and intermediaries, how the pandemic created new challenges, sparked innovation and collaborations, as well as exposed new and existing inequalities across diverse higher education institutions and organizations.
Associated Researchers:
- Len Ole Schäfer, Dr.
- Friedrich W. Hesse, Prof. Dr., Dr.
- Uwe Elsholz, Prof. Dr.
- Elisabeth Mayweg, Prof. Dr.
- Tiana Tschache
| Duration | 04/2020 – 03/2023 |
Melissa Laufer, Dr. (on parental leave)
This guide aims to provide insights and recommendations for practitioners implementing educational technology. It offers helpful suggestions, space to reflect, and guidance for discussion.
Read Practitioners’ Field Guide for Implementing Educational Technology
Benedikt Fecher, Dr.Associate Researcher & Former Head of Research Programme: Knowledge & Society
Bronwen DeaconResearcher and project manager: Knowledge & Society
Melissa Laufer, Dr. (on parental leave)Head of Research Programme: Knowledge & Society
-
Freia KuperFormer associated Researcher: Knowledge & Society -
Maricia Aline MendeFormer Student Assistant: Knowledge & Society -
Moritz TimmFormer Researcher & Project Coordinator -
Paola Perrin de BrichambautFormer Student Assistant: Knowledge & Society
Journal articles and conference proceedings
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
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
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
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
Book contributions and chapters
Schütz, J., Rosenkranz, L., Deacon, B. & Elsholz, U. (2022). Never walk alone. Über das Verhältnis pädagogischer Professionalität und organisationaler Bedingungen an Hochschulen in Zeiten der Pandemie. In H. Angenent, J. Petri, & T. Zimenkova (Eds.), Hochschulen in der Pandemie: Impulse für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung von Studium und Lehre. Bielefeld: transcript. 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
Custer, S., Deacon, B., Herckis, L., Hesse, F. W., Hörig, M., Kercher, J., Knoth, A., Knüttgen, N., Kobsda, C., Leiser, A., Meyer-Guckel, V., Ndemo, B., Saxberg, B., Vignare, K. , & Willems, D. (2021). Global Learning Council (2021). Digital Transformation of Higher Education—Global Learning Report. In Friedrich W. Hesse, Christian Kobsda & Anne Leiser, Berlin:. DOI: 10.21241/ssoar.73580 Publication details
Other publications
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
Deacon, B. & Leiser, A. (2022). Inequalities in higher education: A global perspective. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD) BLOG. Publication details
Deacon, B., Laufer, M. & Sokolovska, N. (2022). Sharing knowledge: Impact of Covid-19 on digital teaching. Digital society blog. Publication details
Deacon, B. & Timm, M. (2022). Possibilities for Change: Higher Education and Digitalisation. encore. The Annual Magazine on Internet and Society Research, 2021/2022, 120-127. Publication details
Deacon, B., & Timm, M. (2021). Possibilities for Change – Higher Education and Digitalisation. Digital society blog. Publication details
Laufer, M. & Deacon, B. (2020). The rapid digital turn: How are universities faring? Digital Society Blog. Publication details
Lectures and presentations
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
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
Inequalities in higher education – A global perspectiveUniversity:Future Festival 2021 - Open for Discussion. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 03.11.2021 Further information
Anne Leiser, Bronwen Deacon, Pam Fredman, Amy Ogan, Barbara Moser-Mercer, Jeff Grabill
Digital higher education – A divider or bridge builder? Leadership perspectives on digital learning for collaborationCHER 33rd Annual Conference Promoting Closer Relations and Scholarly Dialogues Between European and Asian Higher Education Researchers. University of Hong Kong; CHER Board of Governors. Online, Hong Kong, HKSAR: 01.09.2021 Further information
Bronwen Deacon, Anne Leiser, Erle Lim Chuen Hian & Ilka Parchmann
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