Katrin Valentin

Professor Katrin Valentin holds a Professorship in Pedagogy at the Evangelical University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg (EVHN) since November 2024, following a Research Professorship at the same institution from November 2022 to October 2024. She is affiliated with the Social (Work) Sciences Department within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Beyond her university role, she maintains extensive professional connections including membership in the German Society for Educational Science, leadership of the working group 'Research on Youth Work in Times of Socio-ecological Transformation,' and involvement with the National Platform for Education for Sustainable Development.

Professor Valentin's research focuses on the intersection of education, sustainability, and digital transformation. Her work explores how youth work can adapt to socio-ecological challenges while maintaining relevance in digitalized everyday lives. She investigates positive motivations for sustainable development ('Pull Factors of ESD') and develops practical methods like the 'Empathy Circle' for processing social transformation. Her research connects theoretical frameworks with practical applications for educators and youth workers.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward future-oriented sustainability education, with increasing focus on socio-ecological transformation in youth contexts. Her work bridges digital education methods with sustainability goals, examining how video tutorials and other digital tools can support transformative learning. She increasingly incorporates emotional and embodied dimensions of learning, as seen in her work on body-oriented exercises for democratic competencies.

Professor Valentin actively contributes to sustainability initiatives beyond academia through multiple channels:

• Member of Sustainability Advisory Board and Steering Group for City of Fürth
• Co-founder of Families for Future (www.families4future.net)
• Founding member of Forum 1.5 Middle Franconia at FAU
• Member of BUND Naturschutz Bayern e.V. (Nature Conservation Union Bavaria)
• Jury member for Deloitte Foundation's 'Hidden Movers Award'

Her research is supported through various channels including the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education, which funds her 'Body-oriented University Teaching in Social Work' project. She actively collaborates with youth organizations, municipal sustainability initiatives, and international networks to translate research into practice. Professor Valentin maintains a strong presence in both academic and practitioner communities through publications, workshops, and the networks she has founded.

Professor Valentin leads multiple research teams focused on youth work transformation, sustainable development education, and digital learning methods. Her 'Empathy Circle' method has developed into a distinct approach with dedicated training workshops. She coordinates the 'Trainers Training Education for Sustainable Development Nü/Fü/Er' network, creating a community of practice across Nuremberg, Fürth, and Erlangen.