Christian Wiesner

Professor Christian Wiesner is a University Professor of Relationship and Developmental Pedagogy as well as Pedagogy of Diversity at the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria (Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich). He serves as Academic Director of the university course with Master's degree "Pedagogy of Diversity - emotional, prosocial and social development." Previously, he was responsible for the review of educational standards in Austria at the Austrian Federal Institute for Educational Research, Innovation and Development (BIFIE). His academic affiliations span multiple institutions including the University of Vienna, University of Salzburg, University of Innsbruck, and University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Professor Wiesner's research focuses on developmental pedagogy, relationship pedagogy, diversity education, mentoring, educational leadership, and transformative learning. His work integrates phenomenological approaches with attachment theory to understand educational processes, particularly examining the didactic triangle, student-teacher relationships, and professional identity development. A member of both the Society for New Phenomenology and the International Ernst Cassirer Society, his theoretical framework draws heavily on semiotics and phenomenology.

Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2024) reveals a strong emphasis on care ethics, futures literacy, teacher well-being, and social-emotional learning. His research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in educational settings, with particular attention to evidence-based approaches to school development and mentoring practices. The work shows increasing collaboration with international researchers across Europe, particularly in projects focused on teacher well-being and social-emotional learning interventions.

• Jurymitglied Medida-Prix 2003, Mediendidaktischer Hochschulpreis der Gesellschaft für Medien in der Wissenschaft (GMW)

Professor Wiesner actively supervises research through multiple funded projects including OPEN2chat (2020-present), COMET for Kids (2023-2026), and Teaching to be (Erasmus+ Project, 2021-2024). His mentoring approach emphasizes relational aspects of professional development, viewing mentoring as "a space of possibility" that fosters both personal and professional growth. As Academic Director of the Master's program in Pedagogy of Diversity, he oversees a significant graduate education program focused on emotional, prosocial, and social development.

Professor Wiesner leads the OPEN2chat research platform, which serves as a hub for his work on relationship pedagogy, mentoring, and care ethics in educational contexts. This platform connects multiple research projects focused on social-emotional learning, teacher well-being, and evidence-based educational practices. His team includes collaborators from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Caritas Niederösterreich, and the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work.