(in German)

Advancing research in vocational rehabilitation requires interdisciplinary exchange on the field’s conceptual orientation, methodological development, and structural framework conditions. The aim is to identify development needs and formulate perspectives for a future-oriented and broadly accessible research agenda.

The study is based on a three-day scoping workshop involving 14 researchers from various fields. The content of the discussions is analyzed in a structured manner, with the aim of deriving key positions for further development of the research field.

Research in vocational rehabilitation is evolving into a multi- and interdisciplinary field that addresses individual, organizational, institutional and societal conditions for participation in working life across the life course. Greater conceptual clarity and stronger international alignment are identified as key areas for development. Methodologically, a diverse and context-sensitive approach is considered essential, and transdisciplinary as well as participatory elements gain in importance. Core prerequisites for systematically relevant research include the establishment of field-specific standards of evidence and the development of longitudinal, cross-agency data infrastructures. Structurally, there is development potential in expanding institutional integration, long-term funding strategies, and targeted support for early-career researchers.

Future-oriented vocational rehabilitation research requires clear conceptual profiling, stronger institutional anchoring, and long-term, cross-sectoral funding structures. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic visibility are key requirements to unlocking the field’s potential and ensuring its societal relevance.

Please download the article "Research on Vocational Rehabilitation: Position and strategies for the future" (in German only).