Michael Opielka

Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Opielka is a Professor at the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, Department of Social Work. He serves as Scientific Director and Managing Director of the ISÖ – Institute for Social Ecology gGmbH in Siegburg. His academic career includes a doctorate in Sociology from Humboldt University Berlin (1996) and habilitation at Hamburg University (2008). He has held visiting scholar positions at UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Research focuses on social policy, comparative socio-political analysis, education reform, and welfare systems. Key works include analyses of German-Swiss welfare comparisons, educational policy integration, and pension systems. He leads projects on digital social services, solidarity farming, and migration law transformations.

Publications span socio-political theory, welfare state comparisons, and institutional reform. Awards include the German Marshall Fund Fellowship (1990-91). He advises doctoral candidates and oversees research at the ISÖ Institute, focusing on social ecology and policy innovation.