Holger Gärtner

Holger Gärtner is a Professor of Teaching and School Evaluation at the Department of Education and Psychology, Free University of Berlin, a position he has held since October 2020. He previously served as Scientific Director (2020–2024) and Managing Director (2018–2020) of the Institute for School Quality of the States of Berlin and Brandenburg (ISQ). His academic foundation includes a Diploma in Psychology from the Technical University of Berlin (2002), a doctorate (Dr. phil.) from Freie Universität Berlin (2006), and a habilitation in Educational Science (2014).

His research focuses on data literacy of educators, data-supported school and classroom development, internal and external school evaluation, and the use of feedback from student assessments. He develops and evaluates interventions aimed at improving teaching quality and school leadership practices through systematic observation and feedback.

The most recent articles highlight a consistent focus on school evaluation, feedback mechanisms, and data use in education. His work combines empirical intervention studies with instrument development, particularly in measuring teaching quality and leadership feedback. He frequently collaborates with colleagues such as Felicitas Thiel, Susanne Wurster, and Marc Brunner, and his publications appear in leading journals in educational effectiveness and evaluation.

Scientific Engagement:

• Active member of the German Society for Psychology (DGPs)
• Member of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI)
• Member of the Working Group on Empirical Educational Research (AEPF)

Research and Advising:
He leads externally funded research projects, including the BMBF-funded FEED UB Transfer (2024–2027), which aims to implement feedback cultures in schools. While specific PhD advisees are not listed, his collaborative publications suggest active mentorship and team leadership. He has supervised research teams and contributed to policy-relevant evaluations in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Bremen.

Labs and Teams:
He leads the research team on Teaching and School Evaluation at Freie Universität Berlin and previously led major research units at the ISQ. His work involves interdisciplinary collaboration with psychologists, educational researchers, and policymakers.