First doctoral dissertation completed at the Alanus University Graduate School for Waldorf Education

Graduate school opens application process for 11 additional doctoral scholarships

The first scholarship holder of the Graduate School for Waldorf Education at Alanus University has completed and successfully defended his dissertation. Using the Parzival novel as a basis, Frank Steinwachs examined “Literature Didactics and German Lessons at Waldorf Schools.” He submitted his doctoral thesis to Saarland University in Saarbrücken; with its publication, he will be awarded his doctorate. Founded in 2015, the Graduate School for Waldorf Education supports doctoral projects that scientifically examine educational practice at Waldorf schools in particular. The graduate school is currently awarding eleven scholarships for doctoral projects, and interested applicants may apply effective immediately.

Broad range of expertise and diverse research

“There is still too little research that examines Waldorf education from the perspective of educational science and, in particular, analyzes educational practice,” explains Jost Schieren, Dean of the Department of Educational Science at Alanus University and head of the graduate school. Graduate Frank Steinwachs emphasizes: “The graduate school was very important and valuable for the success of my work, both economically and in terms of content.” He also appreciated, in overcoming the challenges of his doctoral project, the broad range of expertise within the graduate school, consisting of professors from various universities: “This greatly broadened the discourse and made it necessary to substantiate one’s own assumptions and theses on Waldorf education with sound arguments,” says the long-standing Waldorf teacher and lecturer in teacher education.

In addition to Frank Steinwachs, the graduate school is currently financing and supporting six further doctoral projects. In addition, the school is currently offering eleven scholarships. Interested candidates with a degree that qualifies them for admission to doctoral studies may apply, for example in pedagogy, educational science, philosophy, or a teacher education program. “It is desirable for applicants to already have practical and theoretical knowledge of Waldorf education and teaching experience at Waldorf schools,” says Professor Schieren.

Fostering interest in academic engagement

The graduate school is broadly networked academically. Its faculty includes, among others, professors from the universities of Bochum, Passau, Rostock, Oldenburg, and Leipzig. The program is funded by the Software AG Foundation, the Pedagogical Research Unit at the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools, and the company Stockmar. “The Graduate School for Waldorf Education is an important step toward making Waldorf education, which has proven itself many times in practice, academically compatible as well,” explains Achim Granz from the Executive Board of the Software AG Foundation. The aim of the funding is to spark interest among early-career academics in scholarly engagement. “In this way, we also want to create the conditions for future postdoctoral qualifications and professorships in the field of Waldorf education,” Granz continues.

Further information on the Graduate School for Waldorf Education and the requirements for doctoral funding can be found at https://www.graduiertenkolleg-waldorfpaedagogik.de.