Michael Appel

Professor Michael Appel serves as a Professor of Theories, Action Concepts and Methods of Social Work at the Evangelische Hochschule Nürnberg since October 2009. His academic career bridges practical social work experience with rigorous research methodologies, having previously worked as Scientific Coordinator of Teaching-Learning Research at the University of Siegen until September 2009. Professor Appel maintains strong connections to both academic research and practical social work settings through his methodological expertise and applied research projects.

Professor Appel's research focuses on reconstructive approaches in Social Work, with particular emphasis on ethnography, biography analysis, and qualitative research methods. His work explores intercultural Social Work, integration processes of unaccompanied refugee minors, and cultural change studies. He has developed innovative approaches to research-based, discovery learning that integrate theory, practice, and reflection in social work education. His methodological contributions span narrative interviewing techniques, ethnographic field research, and biographical analysis frameworks.

Professor Appel's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across two decades, with recent work concentrating on refugee integration processes and methodological innovations in qualitative social work research. His 2021-2019 publications address critical issues in biographical work with refugee minors and the challenges faced by refugees aging out of youth care systems. His research shows a clear trajectory from earlier work on youth work quality management to current focus areas in refugee integration, maintaining consistent methodological rigor throughout.

Professor Appel's advising approach emphasizes reconstructive knowledge building through ethnographic approaches in case-based learning contexts. His research projects often involve collaborative work with students and practitioners, creating opportunities for hands-on research experience. His work on the WANJA project and current refugee integration studies demonstrate his commitment to research that directly informs and improves social work practice. He has developed frameworks for effectiveness dialogue in youth work and quality management systems that have practical applications in social service settings.

Professor Appel leads research initiatives focused on integration processes of unaccompanied refugee minors, employing biographical analytical methods and ethnographic approaches. His work combines academic rigor with practical relevance, maintaining strong connections to social work practice settings while advancing methodological approaches in qualitative social research. His research group collaborates with youth welfare services and refugee support organizations to ensure practical applicability of research findings.