Academic & Research Profile

Research at Karls is emphasing the re-thinking, the re-imagining of existing approaches and theories as well as contributing for a re-doing of practices. All of this is serving for an integraltransFormation’ of society, economy and organisations as well as individuals.

Our academic identity is characterized by pluralistic oriented and philosophically reflectiveresearch interests, whilst focusing on phenomena that are related to both organisational and economic dimensions and leadership, as well as socio-cultural and political sytems and issues in both society and the economy."

In particular, we are interested in situating and exploring processes and activities of individuals, communities and various (alternative) forms of organisations, and public or non-governmental institutions in their cultural and societal embedment and in relation to social, ethical and aesthetic “transFormation”.

    Research Approaches

    Scholars and students at the Karls conduct their inter- and transdisciplinary research in a collaborative and open-minded environment. Their academic identity is most often characterized by pluralistically oriented and philosophically reflective research interests. The Karls is a place where research responds to complex problems and pressing challenges while revisiting and reinitiating ways of thinking and doing research. 

    Research taking place at the Karls tends to place a special focus on ethics, diversity, inclusion, equality, feminism, intersectionality, and social justice as well as change and innovation in business and society and integral approaches towards sustainability development and practice. 

    The Importance of Research 

    Professors and Instructors research, publish, and present at conferences to stay up to date on the latest developments in their fields and to connect and enter dialogue with scholars from other universities and from across the world. Publishing their findings also allows scholars to make their work available to public scrutiny and critique, thus validating their opinion and data. 

    Research as a Student 

    Students at the bachelor level are taught how to conduct and present their research as it is a skill that allows them to delve deeper into specific topics and gain a more comprehensive understanding, rather than just relying on what they are told in class or read in a textbook. Knowing how to conduct and present basic research is an essential tool for many of today’s careers, and undergraduate students show through their bachelor thesis that they have mastered this essential ability.  

    Students at the master’s level are trained to use more advanced research competences, which include multidisciplinary approaches and more complex research designs. Some students might co-author publishable papers or articles with their supervising professors or more advanced peers at this point in their career. The master’s thesis shows these students’ achievement of advanced research skills. 

    At the doctoral level, students work very closely with their faculty advisers to make the step from student researcher into the professional world. Students at this level will usually start presenting at conferences and might co-author publishable papers or articles with their supervising professors or more advanced peers. The culmination of the doctoral students’ studies is their dissertation, which is a long and highly focused research project. 

    Research Focus, Faculty I 

    The research focus in Faculty I lies in the areas of the interplay of managerial practices, symbolic meanings, institutional logic, market dynamics, and global challenges. Faculty I is interested in studying how these factors interact and shape organizational behavior, which will ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the workings of modern organizations and provide insights into how they can be managed more effectively in the face of ongoing global challenges. 

    Research Focus, Faculty II 

    Faculty II focuses on interdisciplinary research in relation to alternative forms of living and working in civic society and economies as well as forms of critical governance. It systematically explores the connection between progressive politics, philosophies, heterodox, pluralistic economics, and international relations. 

    Specific Research Focus in Faculties

    • Our Faculty I focuses on critical research and teaching in the interplay of managerial practices, symbolic meanings, institutional logics, market dynamics and global challenges.
    • Complementarily, Faculty II focuses on inter- and transdisciplinary and integral research and teaching in relation to alternative forms of living and working in civic society and economies as well as forms of critical governance. In particular it explores systematically the nexus of progressive politics, (analytic, continental and non-western) philosophies and heterodox, pluralistic economics, and international relations.