Prof. Anne Piezunka - New Chair of School Education / Institutional School Research

Anne Piezunka has been Chair of School Education / Institutional School Research at TU Dresden since March 2026. After studying at the FU Berlin (and Universidad Autónoma in Madrid, Spain), she worked at the Social Science Research Center Berlin, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and the Berlin School of Social Work and Education, among others. During her doctorate, which was funded by the University of Hildesheim Foundation, Anne Piezunka was a visiting researcher at Northwestern University in Chicago (USA).

Name: Prof. Anne Piezunka
Position/Professorship: Chair of School Education / Institutional School Research
Institute/Faculty: Institute of Education, Faculty of Education

What are your core research areas and research interests?
In my research, I am interested in how (education policy) guidelines are interpreted at different levels of the education system. For example, the question of how inclusion is understood, discussed and implemented at the level of education administration in the individual federal states. Furthermore, in my research I analyze pedagogical relationships in the context of recognition and violence and also take a look at how social relations of difference and inequality shape pedagogical contexts.

What was your most interesting or exciting research project?
I find interdisciplinary research contexts in the context of various projects particularly exciting, e.g. the collaborations in the DFG network: working with people from different disciplines is sometimes challenging and feels like learning a new language, but it allows you to broaden your own perspective.

What project are you currently working on?
Our CHIPS project started in April. In the project, we are investigating in Germany and Austria (in cooperation with the Vorarlberg University of Teacher Education) what experiences young people have in everyday school life in the context of pedagogical relationships. We are particularly interested in what expectations are formulated for teachers and professionals in pedagogical relationships and what conditions can strengthen or impair pedagogical relationships. The research project is a sub-project of the Collaborative Research Center [in:just], which is based at Goethe University Frankfurt and is funded by the DFG.

What should never be missing from your desk?
Coffee and my "paper" calendar (I really enjoy using digital tools in many areas, but I still keep a "hybrid" calendar).

Do you have a favorite quote? If so, which one and who is it from?
It's not a classic quote, but it explains my curiosity: "I'm basically interested in everything!" from my father.

What was the last book you read?
"When teachers cross boundaries" by Britta Rotsch (thanks for the recommendation to Jessica Angioni!). I also regularly read and listen to Raul Krauthausen's newsletter, Mareice Kaiser and Josephine Apraku's podcasts and Carolin Emcke's books.

You can find more information about her at:
I am part of the Reckahn Initiative for Educational Relationships and you can find me on LinkedIn.