Ulrike Eichinger

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Eichinger is Professor for Theory and Practice of Social Pedagogy at Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin (ASH Berlin) since 2014. Previously, she held professorial positions at Evangelische Hochschule Dresden (2013-2014) and Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Holzminden (2011). At ASH Berlin, she serves as Chair of the Academic Staff Commission (KAMA), Member of the Budget Committee, and Department Council I: Social Work.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Philosophy, Freie Universität Berlin (2008)
• Diploma in Social Work, Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main (2001)
• State-certified Educator, Fachakademie für Sozialpädagogik Aschaffenburg (1997)

Prof. Eichinger's research centers on critical approaches to social work, with emphasis on conflict analysis, organizational theory, and subject-scientific practice research. Her work examines how social workers navigate institutional constraints while developing critical awareness of their action frameworks. She investigates possibilities for innovative practice that challenges restrictive interpretations, particularly in refugee accommodation and child welfare services. Her theoretical foundation integrates critical psychology with regime research and organizational theory.

Analysis of her publication trajectory (2011-2023) reveals growing emphasis on collaborative conflict analysis, power dynamics in social work education, and pandemic-related challenges. Her research increasingly addresses migration contexts and precarious employment in social services, with a methodological shift toward participatory and collective approaches. The 2022 edited volume 'Konfliktanalysen: Element einer kritischen Sozialen Arbeit' represents a significant contribution to critical social work methodology.

Professional affiliations include:

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Soziale Arbeit (DGSA)
• Vereinigte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (Ver.di)
• Gesellschaft für Subjektwissenschaftliche Forschung und Praxis e.V. (GSFP)
• Trusted Advisor at Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (HBS)

Her academic contributions include developing formats for supporting social workers' critical reflection on practice contexts and identifying field-specific challenges through research grounded in organizational theory. She has been instrumental in organizing the 'Ferienuniversität Kritische Psychologie' at ASH Berlin, demonstrating commitment to alternative academic spaces for critical perspectives.

While specific laboratory structures aren't detailed, her collaborative publications and organizational roles indicate active engagement with research collectives focused on critical social work. Her work consistently bridges theoretical critique with practical application, examining how social workers can create professional opportunity spaces within institutional constraints.