Local Educational Landscapes in Germany: Interfaces and Interlacings Between Education and Urban Development

Abstract

Sociopolitical discussion on education within the last decade has revealed that space and the urban context are two important dimensions of education, and that education is gaining importance for urban development. This is becoming particularly evident in concepts for local educational landscapes (Bildungslandschaften). Researchers within the German debate on local educational landscapes frequently state that there is a positive connection between education and urban development without scientifically verifying this claim. The authors of this contribution present preliminary results from a research project conducted by educationalists and urban planners from 2014 to 2016. They present the current state of the debate and scientific research on local educational landscapes in Germany and Europe and the preliminary results concerning the contextual and spatial interfaces and linkages between educational policy and urban development policy.