Thomas Coelen

Professor Thomas Coelen is a prominent academic at the University of Siegen, serving as Dean of Faculty II (Education · Architecture · Arts) and Professor of Educational Science with specialized focus on Socialization, Youth Education, and Life Course Research. He is affiliated with the Department of Education and Institute of Social Pedagogy, located at Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 2a in Siegen.

Coelen's educational background includes studies in educational science and teaching subjects (biology, history, and sports) at the University of Hamburg, where he completed his 1st state examination for teaching at secondary levels. His academic journey progressed through scholarship positions, dissertation work on "Pedagogy and the Municipal Public Sphere," and habilitation research on "All-day education: Foundations of institutionalization – research perspectives" at Bielefeld University.

His research interests center on social pedagogy, examining how educational processes intersect with urban development, demographic change, and social spaces. Coelen investigates how children and youth develop identities within various educational landscapes, with particular attention to the relationship between formal schooling and informal youth work. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in municipal educational planning.

Professor Coelen serves on multiple committees including the Practice Committee of the Bachelor's program in Social Work and the Institute for Social Pedagogy Advisory Board. He is also involved with "Siegen.Knowledge Connects" (the university's move to the city initiative) and serves on the external advisory board of the journal "Neue Praxis."

His professional activities extend to leadership roles as co-founder of the Municipal Pedagogical Institute (kp_i) from 1999-2018 and co-founder of the Förderverein Kommunale Sozialforschung in Hamburg since 2005. He has been an active member of the German Society for Educational Science since 2003.

Coelen directs significant research initiatives including the "Siegen Center for Socialization, Biography and Life Course Research" (SiZe), which he led from 2009-2014. His work connects academic research with practical applications in educational policy and municipal planning, particularly regarding how communities can create effective educational landscapes that serve children and youth across various settings.