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Department of Social Sciences

Dr. Bastian Pelka takes over a substitute professorship in the Department of Rehabilitation Sociology

Portrait of Dr. Bastian Pelka © Jana Sandner
Dr. Bastian Pelka

The coordinator of the sfs research area "Innovation and Education in the Digital Society", Dr. Bastian Pelka, will take over the substitute professorship in the field of rehabilitation sociology at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences at TU Dortmund University in the winter semester 2021/22. Dr. Bastian Pelka has been teaching at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences since 2013 and enriches the faculty's study programs, especially in project studies through the "Get Online Week Dortmund" program.

Dr. Bastian Pelka completed his doctorate in communication sciences at a time when artificial intelligence was still in its infancy on the question of how AI affects journalism. Since then, the interfaces between people - profession - (digital) technology have occupied him from various angles. In particular, he is interested in opportunities for and in digital participation for individuals or groups with special impairments or limitations.

Already since 2010 he coordinated the research area "Work and Education in Europe" in the sfs, which after its reorientation is called "Innovation and Education in the Digital Society". Dr. Pelka has experience in managing a variety of national and European projects. He is currently responsible for the projects "IncluScience" (funded by the BMBF), "Emscher Lippe hoch 4 (Experience digitization and digitalization in our learning and demonstration laboratory for innovation, integration, transfer and education)", and the project "Arbeiten, wie ich es will!" (Working the way I want!), which will start soon. The latter examines the potential of learning spaces and artificial intelligence to promote the self-determined transition of employees in workshops for disabled people into the general labor market.

Dr. Bastian Pelka has been teaching at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences since 2013 and enriches the faculty's study programs, particularly in project studies, through the "Get Online Week Dortmund" program. He describes himself as an application-oriented researcher.

Bastian Pelka has set himself several goals for the time of his deputy professorship: "In teaching, I would like to enable students to independently and professionally examine new technologies for their suitability for the pedagogical promotion of participation. This includes, among other things, technology critique, personal attitude, a reflection on one's own professional role, ethics, an understanding of digital competencies, and a willingness to engage with new technologies."

He would like to focus further on application-oriented research. Here he brings good connections to Akteur:innen in Dortmund.

His publications can be found at Orcid or ResearchGate.

Bastian Pelka lives with his family in Dortmund. He is an enthusiastic observer of the flock of chickens that recently joined the family.

The sfs colleagues wish Dr. Bastian Pelka a good time as a substitute professor at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences!