Uwe P. Kanning

Prof. Dr. Uwe P. Kanning is a Professor of Business Psychology at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. He holds a PhD in Psychology and a Habilitation, specializing in evidence-based HR practices. His research focuses on personnel selection, performance evaluation, and debunking pseudoscientific HR methods. He has advised numerous organizations on professional recruitment and leadership development.

Education: Studied Psychology, Pedagogy, and Sociology at the University of Münster and Canterbury (UK), earning his Diplom (1993) and PhD (1997). He became a Habilitated Professor (2007) with a venia legendi in Psychology.

Research Interests: Personnel selection validity, social competence measurement, motivation drivers, and combating unscientific HR practices like graphology and pseudopsychometric tools. His work emphasizes evidence-based decision-making in organizational contexts.

Awards: Multiple teaching awards (2000–2006), the University of Münster’s Teaching Prize (2006), and recognition as one of Germany’s leading HR experts (2013–2023). His work bridges academic research and practical HR solutions, often critiquing myths in popular management practices.

Grants/Advising: Conducted over 20 years of applied research in assessment centers, performance metrics, and leadership development. Collaborated with companies like Mövenpick Hotels and public sector organizations.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Business Psychology unit, focusing on digital HR tools and ethical recruitment practices. His team develops diagnostic instruments like the ISK (Inventory of Social Competence).