On October 9, 2024, the Faculty Center for Empirical Research in Inclusion (CERI) was officially established with the decision of the Rectorate of the University of Graz. This initiative clearly underscores the importance of inclusion as a central social and educational policy task.
The center aims to sustainably anchor and further develop inclusion in both research and the training of educators. CERI builds on the content and structure of the cooperation project “Establishment of a Research Center for Inclusive Education” (2020–2024), which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and jointly established by the University of Graz, the University College of Teacher Education Styria, and the Private University College of Teacher Education Augustinum.
With Univ.-Prof. Barbara Gasteiger-Klicpera as head, Assoz. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Mag. Lisa Paleczek as the deputy head, and Senior Scientist Franziska Reitegger, PhD, as a core team member, the center is staffed with leading experts in empirical inclusion research.