Sandra Hofhues

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sandra Hofhues serves as the managing director of the Institute for Educational Science and Media Research (IfBM) and holds a W3 professorship for media didactics at the FernUniversität in Hagen. As a prominent figure in educational science, she represents the university in national and international research collaborations, focusing on the intersection of digitalization, education, and organizational structures. Her leadership extends to editorial roles and academic governance, including membership on the board of the German Society for Educational Science (DGfE).

Her academic journey began with dual vocational training as an industrial clerk (final grade: 1.0), followed by high school diploma. She pursued a Bachelor's degree (2002-2005) and Master's degree (2006-2007) in 'Media and Communication' at the University of Augsburg (final grades: 1.41 and 1.0 respectively). Her doctoral studies at the Bundeswehr University Munich culminated in a Dr. phil. degree with magna cum laude honors (2007-2012).

Professor Hofhues' research centers on two interconnected domains: media didactics in the context of digitalization and digitality, and documentary media and organizational research. She critically examines how digital transformation reshapes educational practices, institutional structures, and knowledge production. Her work emphasizes the socio-technical dimensions of educational technologies, questioning how datafication processes reconfigure school organization and educational governance. She approaches these issues through qualitative social research methods, focusing on material artifacts and organizational practices.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the implications of digital transformation across educational contexts, with increasing attention to datafication, artificial intelligence, and platformization. The research trajectory shows an evolution from examining digitalization as a technical process to understanding digitality as a cultural and social condition that fundamentally reshapes educational practices and institutions. Her work increasingly engages with critical perspectives on educational technology, questioning normative assumptions embedded in digital tools and platforms.

Professor Hofhues has received notable recognition for her contributions to educational science:

• Fellow of the Teaching Excellence Network 'Lehre n'
• Member of the board of the German Society for Educational Science (DGfE)
• Member of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's OER Advisory Board
• Co-editor of the book series 'Digitality and Education'

As an active researcher, Professor Hofhues leads and contributes to numerous third-party funded projects that investigate digital transformation in educational contexts. Her current research portfolio includes the BMBF-funded projects 'BIRD – Bildungsraum digital' (as sub-project leader with a budget of approximately 1.6 million EUR), 'All is data (Aid)' on media and data education for educational personnel, 'DocTalk – Dialog trifft Chatbot,' and 'WerteRadar.' These projects reflect her commitment to translating theoretical insights into practical applications that address contemporary educational challenges.

Professor Hofhues leads the Media Didactics research team at the Institute for Educational Science and Media Research (IfBM). Her team engages in collaborative research that bridges theory and practice, often working with schools, universities, and other educational institutions to understand and shape digital transformation processes. The research environment she has cultivated emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, bringing together perspectives from educational science, media studies, sociology, and information science to address complex questions about digital education.