PDRnet meeting in Kassel

The annual meeting of the Professional Development Research Network (PDRnet) took place at the University of Kassel from March 26 to 28, 2025. Two researchers from Finland were among the 40 or so doctoral students, postdocs and professors from Vocational Education and Management Training - as well as Prof. Stephan Abele and Jennifer Schauer from the Chair of Business Education and Management Training.

In nine presentations, doctoral students gave exciting insights into their research on various topics of vocational learning and professional development, such as the professionalization of teachers, transitions into vocational education and training or skills transfer in higher education. The subsequent discussion rounds provided space for appreciative, constructive feedback and joint reflection on the research work.

Under the question "(How) Does the apprentices' perceived support of basic psychological needs in VET affect the apprentices professional knowledge?", Jennifer Schauer presented a research project from her dissertation, which she is working on together with Stephan Abele and Julian M. Etzel (Charlotte Fresenius University of Applied Sciences Hamburg). Based on a sample of automotive trainees, they are investigating the influence of supporting the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and social integration in dual vocational training on the development of the trainees' specialist knowledge. There were many clever thoughts and ideas from the plenum that will be incorporated into the further development of the study.

We look forward to the next PDRnet meeting in Constance in 2026.