Simon Goebel

Simon Goebel is a Professor for Social Work and Diversity at the Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. Appointed in 2021, he leads research and teaching in the Social Work (Bachelor of Arts) program, focusing on critical approaches to migration, diversity, and social justice. His academic work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in social work contexts.

Dr. Goebel earned his doctorate in European Ethnology/Folklore from the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 2016. His academic journey includes research positions at the Centre for Flight and Migration (2019-2021) and teaching assignments at multiple German universities since 2012. Prior to his professorship, he worked extensively with Tür an Tür – Integrationsprojekte gGmbH as a speaker and consultant on refugee labor market integration (2014-2020).

His research interests span migration and asylum studies, media representation of refugees, postcolonial theory, diversity and anti-racism, and the legal anthropology of migration control regimes. Dr. Goebel examines how migration discourses are constructed in political talk shows and digital public spheres, with particular attention to the intersection of racism, culturalism, and policy frameworks. His work critically analyzes the relationship between migration control and social policy, especially regarding refugee camps and labor market access.

Dr. Goebel's scholarly contributions reveal consistent themes across his publications: the critical examination of migration discourses in German media and politics, the intersection of racism and culturalism in public debate, and innovative approaches to refugee integration through projects like urban gardening. His work demonstrates how digital media shapes migration narratives while challenging deficit-oriented frameworks in integration policy.

• German Society for Social Work
• German Society for Empirical Cultural Studies
• Refugee Research Network
• Network for Critical Migration and Border Regime Research
• Migration Council

Dr. Goebel actively engages in knowledge transfer through numerous lectures, workshops, and media appearances. He has supervised multiple theses on topics including racism in children's media, refugee family experiences at the intersection of disability, and accommodation standards for refugees. His current projects include 'Hello Diversity! Diversity Check,' an anti-racist analysis of children's books, and 'Urban Gardening with Refugees,' which explores sustainable social work methods.