Frank Früchtel

Prof. Dr. Frank Früchtel is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam's Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences. As Dean since 2017, he leads academic administration while maintaining research and international collaborations with institutions like Westminster University, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, and International Institute for Restorative Practices. His career spans academic roles (University of Bamberg 2002-2007), cross-national practice in Singapore, New Zealand, and Germany, and extensive work in youth welfare planning.

• Education
  • Social Work & Social Pedagogy (1983-1989), Sociology (1984-1990), Turkish Studies (DAAD scholarship, 1986-1991)
  • Doctorate in Postmodern Gender Roles (1993, University of Bamberg, magna cum laude)

Research Interests focus on relational social work, social space orientation, and family group conferencing. Key themes include:

• Integrating life-world and systemic rationalities
• Strengths-based approaches and resource mobilization
• Ethical organizational models in social services
• Inclusive methods for disability and marginalized groups
• Restorative justice frameworks
• Cultural sensitivity in interventions

Recent Publications (2015-2021) emphasize community-embedded practice, digital education transformation during pandemics, and relational ethics. His 2016 co-authored book Relationale Sozialarbeit systematized collaborative intervention models.

Projects include EU-funded digitized examination formats (PeP Project), BMBF-funded community cohesion research, and international training programs in Singapore and Germany.