DDS – Die Deutsche Schule: Issue 2/2026, 118. Volume „School Leaders and Those in Positions of Responsibility Should Look Beyond Their Immediate Horizon.“

In this interview, Karina Karst, Professor of Empirical School Research at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, and Kornelius Knettel, Head of the Sonnenstraße Family Primary School Centre, reflect on the conditions, potentials, and tensions associated with school-university research collaborations. The discussion explores how partnerships between research institutions and schools can be designed to generate tangible benefits for school improvement and quality development. Particular attention is given to the role of school leadership, the importance of clearly defined goals and sustained support, and the need for collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and parity.

Keywords
research collaboration, school, university, school improvement, quality development, knowledge transfer, interview