Press release
Premiere for Brandenburg: First endowed professorship in Social Work starts in autumn
In view of the rising numbers of children and young people in educational support centres and the increasing number of reports of child endangerment in Brandenburg, the need for well-trained specialists is becoming ever more urgent. The Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation is providing an answer with the new endowed professorship for Social Work: the professorship "Help for Education in a Transformative Society" will begin at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam in the winter semester 2026/27. Currently the only endowed professorship at FHP, it fills a gap in the education system and sends a clear signal for social sustainability and practical relevance in the degree programme.
Well-founded degree programme as an answer to the shortage of skilled workers
Practice shows: After graduating, many young people without early practical experience often lack the skills they need for day-to-day work in day-care and outpatient settings. This is why the application-oriented focus of the endowed professorship at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam offers students the opportunity to apply their specialist knowledge in practice at an early stage. The foundation is funding the professorship in the field of social and educational sciences with a total of 750,000 euros for five years until 2031. The appointment is currently being made as part of the university's regular appointment procedure.
An important milestone was the signing of the funding agreement on 5 June 2026 at 11 am – together with Prof. Dr Schmitt-Rodermund, University of Applied Sciences Potsdam President, Science Minister Dr Manja Schüle, Youth Minister Gordon Hoffmann and representatives of the Board of Trustees of the Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation. The press event opens the application phase for students.
"Challenges in educational support are closely linked to social transformation processes, educational issues and social participation. This is precisely why we need a scientifically sound and practical education that prepares students for complex situations at an early stage," emphasises the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam's University President, Prof. Dr Eva Schmitt-Rodermund.
Dr Manja Schüle, Minister for Science, Research and Culture:
"Whether decarbonisation, high-frequency technology, microelectronics in medical technology or digital education - many of these future topics can only be researched in Brandenburg thanks to endowed professorships. I am very pleased that the endowed professorship for educational support will enable research to be carried out on another topic of the future. This is a good and strong investment in the development of a new, innovative research focus, the strengthening of knowledge and technology transfer between research and practice - and very specifically in the future of child and youth welfare. Many thanks to the Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation for this outstanding commitment!"
Gordon Hoffmann, Minister for Education, Youth and Sport: "Today we have good news for child and youth welfare in Brandenburg: the state will become even more professional in the area of educational support in the future. The endowed professorship offers the opportunity to offer families in Brandenburg further support at a high professional level. I would like to thank the foundation and the university of applied sciences for this successful cooperation."
The professorship is anchored in the research focus "Social Space - Education, Participation, Community" and offers scope for research-led teaching.
The unique positioning of the endowed professorship in Brandenburg: Brandenburg has some catching up to do when it comes to endowed professorships, as the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office only recorded seven endowed professorships in 2024 - this corresponds to less than 1% of all professorships and puts it at the bottom of the list of federal states. Another special aspect is the focus on social sciences: according to the Stifterverband, only around 6% of the endowed professorships it establishes are dedicated to this area.
Background
The Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation supports projects that help young people in the state of Brandenburg to develop into cosmopolitan, tolerant, self-confident and responsible personalities. The Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation is a foundation under public law and, at 300 years old, is one of the oldest social foundations in Brandenburg.
The foundation was established in 1724 by King Friedrich Wilhelm I. The sovereign's aim was to accommodate, educate and train unprovided-for children, initially exclusively of military personnel. The girls and boys received care, education and professorial recruitment that went far beyond the usual for a later independent existence.
Contact
Alexandra Schneider
Tel. 0331 281 46 - 82
alexandra.schneider@stiftungwaisenhaus.de