Gudrun Perko

Prof. Dr. Gudrun Perko is Professor of Social Sciences with a focus on Gender, Diversity and Mediation at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam in the Department of Social and Educational Sciences. She has held this position since November 1, 2017, following previous roles as Professor for Gender Mainstreaming and Diversity Managing (2013-2017) and Visiting Professor (2010-2013) at the same institution. Since 2022, she has served as Head of the Part-time Distance Learning Study Programme Social Work (BASA-online) and is a member of the ZEW Advisory Board. Her academic career is deeply intertwined with her role as co-founder and co-director of the Institute for Social Justice and Radical Diversity.

Dr. Perko's research and teaching focus spans Gender/Queer in Social Work, Diversity Studies, Critical Competence Research, Diversity-oriented Mediation, Social Justice and Diversity, Ethics, and Political Philosophy. She has developed the anti-discrimination educational concept 'Social Justice and Diversity' which serves as a cornerstone of her work. Her teaching methodology emphasizes the connection between theory, methods, competences, and practical applications in social work contexts. She has been conducting seminars, teaching projects, real-world labs, and workshops since 2010, with particular emphasis on discrimination-critical educational approaches.

Her scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with intersectional approaches to social justice, with recent publications addressing antiromaism, antisemitism, and radical diversity frameworks. The trajectory of her work shows increasing focus on practical implementation of social justice concepts in educational and social work settings. She has developed numerous educational materials including training cards, mediation films, and a podcast series on conflict resolution in social work.

Throughout her career, Dr. Perko has maintained dual commitments to academic rigor and practical application, serving in various leadership roles including Equal Opportunities Officer (2011-2014), Chairperson of the Departmental Council (2015-2019), and Anti-discrimination Officer (2018-2020). She has also directed certificate programs in Social Justice and Diversity Training since 2012 and conducted numerous workshops in Germany and Austria focused on anti-discrimination practices.