State of Hesse to Provide Long-Term Funding for Goethe University Facility
Since 2017, the Center of Excellence for School Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt has successfully integrated academic research and practical application in the field of school psychology. The State of Hesse has now pledged the necessary funding to secure its long-term continuation.
Schools are facing increasingly complex demands and responsibilities, where school psychology can play a vital role in helping find solutions. With this in mind, the Hessian Ministry of Education and Goethe University Frankfurt jointly launched the Kompetenzzentrum Schulpsychologie Hessen, KSH [Center of Excellence for School Psychology Hesse] in autumn 2017 – initially as a pilot project. The center was designed to enhance school psychology counseling services in Hesse, including prevention and intervention measures, to qualify professionals, and to evaluate prevention programs. Its foundational concept – integrating academic research with school psychology practice – is unique in Germany: school psychologists seconded from the state school boards work collaboratively with researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt on key issues in the field. The center is located on the university’s Westend Campus and is affiliated with the Institute of Psychology’s Department of Educational Psychology. Although the funding decision was made earlier this year, the announcement was celebrated at a recent ceremonial event and open house for pupils.
With its institutionalization, KSH will now receive permanent funding from the State of Hesse. The research projects initiated at its founding – especially those on the effectiveness of psychological counseling in schools – will be continued and expanded to include new projects focusing on students’ mental health and development of self-regulation and socio-emotional skills. At the same time, the center contributes to academic teaching at Goethe University Frankfurt, ensuring that practical knowledge from school psychology is increasingly integrated into the psychology curriculum.
The center places a special emphasis on counseling, prevention, and intervention services in Hesse’s schools, regularly evaluating and developing these. “I am very pleased that the center will now be established permanently and can continue to be a valuable support for school psychology and our schools in Hesse,” said Minister of Education Armin Schwarz. Students will also benefit from this institutionalization. The school psychology expertise of the center’s staff will enrich the psychology curriculum in both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as teacher education. “Social interaction in our schools faces multiple challenges. When scientific expertise in counseling and support can flow directly into schools without detours, problems can be identified and solved at an early stage – for the benefit of both individuals and the school community,” said Goethe University Vice President Prof. Viera Pirker.
“Quality assurance and professionalization are the right responses to the challenges facing schools,” said Charlotte Dignath, Professor of Educational Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt, who co-directs the center together with Dr. Stephan Jeck from the Hessian Ministry of Education.
