Songül Can, BA MA
About the Person
Since 2024 | Research Associate, European Areas of Solidarity (EASY)
Since 2024 | PhD in Educational Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Supervisors: Marc Hill and Caroline Schmitt (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences)
2023 | Internship, Austrian Consulate General, Istanbul, Turkey
2022 | Erasmus+ Internship, International Relations Office, University of Piraeus, Greece
Responsibilities: Erasmus Incoming Students
2021–2022 | Erasmus+ Exchange, University of Piraeus, Athens, Greece
2021–2023 | Master’s in Educational Sciences, University of Innsbruck
2019–2020 | Erasmus+ Exchange, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey
2018–2021 | Bachelor’s in Educational Sciences, University of Innsbruck
Dissertation
Title: Solidarity Perspectives: Expertise on the Educational Situation of People with Irregular Migration Status in Urban Contexts
The dissertation examines perspectives of solidarity using expert insights on the educational situation of people with irregular residence status in an urban context. It is based on a qualitative research design, with the main fieldwork located in Zurich. The study combines a postmigrant perspective with an educational sciences question: How can education - understood as both an individual right and a social space of opportunity - be made accessible to people marginalized by their legal status?
The aim of the dissertation, conducted within the framework of the European Areas of Solidarity (EASY) research project (led by Caroline Schmitt, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, and Marc Hill, University of Innsbruck), is to develop a theory- and practice-based understanding of participation and education for irregularized migrants in a solidarity city. Problem-centered interviews are carried out with experts and practitioners from education, trade unions, cultural associations, and social work. The research does not aim to provide a neutral observation, but reflects on its own role as part of social negotiation processes. Research questions and theoretical assumptions inevitably shape perspectives and interpretations. Therefore, the dissertation also includes methodological reflections on subjectivity, power relations, and political responsibility.
The dissertation is funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation from March 2024 to February 2027 as part of the international European Areas of Solidarity (EASY) project, a collaboration between Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and the University of Innsbruck.
Project website: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/easy (external link)
The foundation's project presentation can be found here: European Areas of Solidarity (EASY) Gerda Henkel Foundation: https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/european-areas-of-solidarity
See also: https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/bildungswissenschaften/forschung/european-areas-of-solidarity/
Research Interests:
- Diversity and Education
- Erasmus+ Program and Mobility Programs
- Intercultural Competence
- International Students
- Migration and Solidarity
Publications
The EASY Collective (i.E.): Solidarisches Handeln stärken. In: Verein Projekt Integrationshaus (Hrsg.): Flüchten – Ankommen – Bleiben. Solidarische Perspektiven. Residenz Verlag: Salzburg/Wien.
The EASY Collective (i.E.): Gedicht und Illustration “Stadt für alle“. In: Lutz, R. & Steinhaußen, J. (Hrsg.): Zerfallende Ordnungen. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Can, S. (2023). Mobilität als Bildungsprozess. Erwerb interkultureller Kompetenzen im Rahmen der internationalen Hochschulbildung [Mobility as an educational process. Acquiring intercultural competences in the context of international higher education]. Master thesis (digital library)
Presentations
06–08 November 2025 | Presentation: Cities of Solidarity in Motion! X Years of Postmigration: Conflicts – Stance – Empowerment. Political Science and Artistic Annual Conference of the Council for Migration, Berlin, Germany
08–11 May 2025 | Presentation: Solidarity in Education in the Urban Context: People with Irregular Residence Status in the Solidarity City. Symposium Educational Migration Research in Interdisciplinary and Comparative Perspective, 11th International Scientific Conference of I.A.K.E. (Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
07–10 November 2024 | Poster and Project Presentation, European Areas of Solidarity (EASY) research project. Conference: Rethinking Social Work – Opening Up Social Work in the Age of Multiple Crises: Struggles and Solidarity, Istanbul, Turkey
Contact
Email: songuel.can@uibk.ac.at