Universität Rostock - Structure - Quality Assurance - About us - Scientific advisory board - Erich Schäfer

Prof. Dr. Erich Schäfer graduated in sociology in 1981 and received a doctorate with his thesis on university continuing education. Until 1985 Prof. Schäfer had worked as freelance lecturer in adult education and was then employed as research assistant at the Bielefeld University. From 1991 to 1994 he was head of the Further Education Centre at the Magdeburg University.

In March 1994, he accepted an appointment of the University of Applied Sciences Jena to focus on methods in adult education. As prorector for academic affairs at the University of Applied Sciences Jena (1995-1997) he represented the universities and colleges of the Free State of Thuringia as member of the management advisory board of the college network for distance education (Fachhochschul-Fernstudienverbund) of the states Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Together with other university lecturers, Prof. Dr. Erich Schäfer established the Jena Institute of Continuing Education, Consultation and Planning focussing on the social sector and acts as its chairman. In addition, he had been board member of the working group University Adult Education* for ten year, for four years he had been deputy chairman (1998 to 2002).

* Since 2003 renamed as: German Association for University Further and Distance Education (DGWF)