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LEAD:FUH – An opportunity for learning analytics research
[18.08.2025]Evidence-based learning analytics applications in a new teaching architecture: That is the goal of the new million-euro project LEAD:FUH. CATALPA is contributing crucial expertise.
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"LEAD:FUH – Learning Empowerment through Analytics and Data" aims to establish a new cross-faculty teaching architecture at the FernUniversität in Hagen. It will offer personalized learning content and support self-regulated learning. The Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre (Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education) is funding the project with almost seven million euros.
"The project offers great opportunities," says learning analytics research professor Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ioana Jivet. "Because all five FernUni faculties are involved, we have an extremely broad database as a comprehensive, reliable, and content-rich foundation for designing the learning analytics tools. In addition, we can draw comparisons between students from different academic cultures in order to tailor the processes and tools even more specifically to specific subject areas. This also promises a great gain in knowledge for learning analytics research."
Photo: Hardy Welsch
"We have an extremely broad database as a comprehensive, reliable, and content-rich foundation for designing the learning analytics tools. In addition, we can draw comparisons between students from different academic cultures. This also promises a great gain in knowledge for learning analytics research."
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ioana Jivet
Together with Prof. Dr. Marcus Specht (CATALPA Research Professor of Learning Sciences) and Dr. Niels Seidel (Senior Researcher at CATALPA), she has been involved in the design of the project from the outset. The three researchers have extensive experience in learning analytics research, ensuring that the implementation of the new teaching architecture meets evidence-based criteria. The team is working hand in hand with the Center for Learning and Innovation.
Scalable findings for transfer
According to Prof. Dr. Marcus Specht, this makes the project a prime example of how CATALPA operates. "LEAD:FUH demonstrates how learning engineering functions in our living lab," he explains. "We are building on learning analytics pilot projects from our research and implementing the new teaching architecture with interim evaluations throughout FernUni. Thus, we are delivering scalable insights for the higher education landscape."
The project will start on October 1, 2025. Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre is initially providing €4.77 million in funding. Following a positive interim evaluation, a further €2 million will be made available. The aim of CATALPA is to use LEAD:FUH to contribute scientifically sound, scalable findings that can be transferred to other degree programs and university locations.
