Marius Metzger

Marius Metzger serves as Lecturer and Project Manager at the Institute for Social Pedagogy and Social Policy within the School of Social Work at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. His professional focus spans social pedagogy, family support systems, and child welfare interventions, with extensive project management experience in evaluation research and policy development across Swiss cantons.

Metzger's academic foundation includes a Doctorate in Special Education from the University of Zurich (2006), complemented by advanced degrees in Adult and Professional Education (2013) and Leadership/Business Administration (2010). His educational trajectory reflects deep integration of psychological theory, pedagogical practice, and organizational management.

• Doctorate in Special Education, University of Zurich, 2006
• Master of Advanced Studies in Adult and Professional Education, Pädagogische Hochschule Zentralschweiz, 2013
• Diploma of Advanced Studies in Leadership, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, 2010
• Diploma as Adult Educator HF, Höhere Fachschule Bern, 2006
• Lizentiat in Psychology, University of Zurich, 2004

His research centers on socio-pedagogical family support systems, with particular emphasis on foster care dynamics, resilience development in vulnerable children, and the financial/policy frameworks governing service accessibility. Metzger examines the tension between voluntary engagement and compulsory measures in child protection contexts, while developing practical models for strengthening parental competence and family functioning.

Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal consistent focus on Swiss family support financing mechanisms, reimbursement policy impacts, and foster care system effectiveness. Key thematic threads include overcoming access barriers through policy reform, enhancing professional competence in social work practice, and developing evidence-based models for supporting at-risk families while respecting family autonomy.

Metzger actively contributes to multiple research consortia including the Research Group on Effectiveness of Socio-Pedagogical Family Support (2015-2022) and serves on boards of the Albert Koechlin Foundation and Swiss Foster Care Organizations. His professional networks span ENSEC, ENCORE, FICE, AIEJI, and IFCO, facilitating international knowledge exchange on child welfare systems.