Julius Späte

Dr. Julius Späte serves as an Academic Assistant (Research Fellow) in the Department of Social and Educational Sciences at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences since 2021, contributing to the dual-digital Social Work (B.A.) program. His work bridges research and practical application in digital social work, with office hours held Mondays 11:45-12:15 on-site and flexible digital appointments by email.

Education:

• BA in Social Work, Hochschule Merseburg (2010-2013)
• MA in Applied Media and Cultural Studies, Hochschule Merseburg (2013-2015)
• Doctorate in Education, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel (2016-2024)
• Advanced training as systemic consultant, German Society for Systemic Therapy (2020-2022)

Research Focus: Späte's work centers on digital transformation in social services, examining socio-technical integration, professional competency development, and residential care privacy. He investigates how digital tools reshape practice through qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, emphasizing framework conditions and practical facilitations for effective implementation in institutional settings.

Publication Trends: His 2021-2024 output reveals escalating specialization in digital social work, progressing from foundational transformation frameworks to targeted analyses of AI applications (e.g., ChatGPT) and privacy dynamics. The research consistently advocates for cross-institutional initiatives while documenting evolving professional requirements in socio-technical environments through both theoretical and empirical lenses.

Projects & Teaching: He leads the #EducatingSociety in the Digital Age network establishing university collaborations for digital social work research, and contributes to BASA Dual-Digital's methodological-constructive studies. His teaching focuses on academic writing, thesis development, and digital literacy, with frequent invited lectures at national conferences addressing technology integration challenges.

Research Ecosystem: Späte operates within the BASA Dual-Digital research collective and #EducatingSociety network, facilitating collaborative knowledge production across institutional boundaries. His work connects academic research with practitioner perspectives through projects examining digital transformation from students' and service providers' viewpoints.