In addition to the classical research topics (Topics of Educational Research), the LIfBi Institute is also dedicated to the scientific investigation of the field of research-based infrastructure development. This is where the project PEN (Publication Acquisition, Data Citation and Usage Monitoring) under the direction of Dr. Lydia Kleine comes in. From October 2020 to the end of February 2021, PEN will conduct a preliminary study that examines the reporting rate of publications that are generated on the basis of data from the National Education Panel (NEPS). The background is the assumption that after ten years of availability of longitudinal NEPS data, a considerable share of the resulting publications is not recorded despite all measures taken so far. However, knowledge about publications as the central instrument for the transfer of scientific findings is central in order to be able to identify, for example, needs for change with regard to research data.

The project "Study Admission of School Graduates with a Migration Background" examines the special situation of students with a migration background and uses the NEPS data set of the starting cohorts 4 and 5 for this purpose. The project of Dr. Gisela Will and Sebastian Neumeyer thus addresses a research gap: While numerous findings exist on the extent and explanation of migration-related inequalities at low and middle educational thresholds, only a few detailed studies exist on the situation of students with a migration background, even though they now make up about one-fifth of the student body in Germany. The project, which will run from December 2020 to May 2022, will focus on two aspects: On the one hand, the specific study decision is to be considered, i.e. the decision to take up a course of study in the first place, the choice of university and the choice of subject. On the other hand, a follow-up project on migration-related inequalities in the course of studies will be initiated based on the results.