Andrea Riecken

Prof. Andrea Riecken is a Professor of Social Work (with a focus on addictions and psychiatry) at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. She holds a doctorate in history and is a licensed psychologist and psychotherapist (behavioral therapy). Her academic career includes roles as a lecturer and professor since 2005, with extensive clinical background in social psychiatry, addiction treatment, and psychosomatic care.

Education:

• Psychology and Sociology studies at University of Osnabrück (1991–1999)
• PhD in History (2004) on migration and healthcare policy
• Psychotherapy training completion (2010)

Research Interests: Her work focuses on social work’s role in mental health, addiction treatment, migration studies, and inclusive employment. She emphasizes evidence-based practices in integration services, cross-cultural competence in healthcare, and policies promoting social inclusion for marginalized groups. Recent projects include evaluating integration aid effectiveness with the Osnabrück District (2024–2027).

Grants & Leadership: Co-developed inclusion frameworks for social work programs, led university initiatives on diversity and intercultural competence (2011–2015), and served on faculty and senate committees. Current projects address digital transformation of integration services and ICF-based outcome measurement in addiction care.

Labs/Teams: Active in the university’s 'Inclusive Education' research focus and collaborates with regional healthcare providers on applied social work projects.