Structure and organization of CATALPA

CATALPA – Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics – is a central scientific institution of the FernUniversität in Hagen.

Base-funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

As an independent Research Cluster, CATALPA is base-funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2017 – then founded as research cluster DDLL, later D²L², and renamed CATALPA in summer 2022 – the cluster has been growing with its own Research Professorships and Junior Research Groups. It is constantly expanding its structures in order to be able to get to the bottom of scientific questions relating to digitalization, diversity and lifelong learning in the higher education context.

Firmly anchored in the FernUniversität

Professors and postdocs from the five faculties of the FernUniversität contribute the university's broad expertise to the Research Center by leading CATALPA projects.

The CATALPA-scientists are in turn closely linked to the faculties through co-optations. This strengthens the transfer of knowledge to the faculties and enables the use of research results in specific courses.

CATALPA is of course closely linked to the university´s Center for Digitization and IT (ZDI) and the Center for Learning and Innovation (ZLI), which each bring excellence in digitization and innovation to teaching and learning. Our research relevant to application can only find its way into implementation through a close exchange with practice. This manifests itself, for example, in CATALPA's participation in infrastructure development projects in the field of learning analytics and in shared technical staff.

Top-class network

Through cooperations, CATALPA is linked to other relevant scientific institutions, which can thus take advantage of the special research environment at the FernUniversität. You can find our cooperations and partners here.

In addition, a top-class and international scientific advisory board advises the Research Center on fundamental technical and interdisciplinary questions of our scientific work.

Interdisciplinary strength

Currently, more than 50 scientists are affiliated with CATALPA - most of them in Hagen, others in cooperating institutions in Berlin and Bonn. They are supported by numerous auxiliary staff.

CATALPA works interdisciplinarily - computer science, computational linguistics, educational sciences, sociology and psychology work hand in hand; the expansion to law and business informatics is in preparation. CATALPA thus creates a breadth of knowledge - from basic research to application - that is unique in Germany.

Self-critical and oriented towards the ideal

CATALPA is committed to high scientific quality standards and ethical values in research. That is why CATALPA scientists like to ensure transparency and have their work reviewed by regular external evaluations. This applies not only to the scientific projects, but also to the structures of CATALPA in general.