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Dr. Mei-Ling Liu

Research and Professional Interests

• Professional research on teacher education, professionalism, and professionalization
• Socialization and habitus research in school and higher education contexts
• School research and school culture
• Pedagogical action in dealing with heterogeneity and educational participation
• International comparative educational research
• Qualitative-reconstructive research methods and longitudinal research

Academic and Professional Career

Since 07/2024 Principal Investigator, independent DFG-funded project “The Development of a Student Habitus in Teacher Education for Elementary School as Part of Teacher Professionalization?”at the Center for School and Educational Research, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

07/2019 – 06/2024 Postdoctoral Researcher (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin) in the Department of Pedagogy and Didactics of Primary Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Erfurt

09/2018 – 06/2019  Research Associate (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin) in BMBF-funded project QUALITEACH (Quality Offensive for Teacher Education) Erfurt School of Education, University of Erfurt

11/2017 – 08/2018 Doctoral thesis publication and C2 German courses and certification

10/2012 – 10/2017 Associated Researcher, in the DFG Research Group 1612 “Mechanisms of Elite Formation in the German Education System”at the Center for School and Educational Research, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

10/2017 Defense of doctoral dissertation: “Teacher Habitus at Elite Schools in China and Germany”; completion of the doctoral procedure with the distinction magna cum laude

09/2008 – 06/2011 Master’s studies in Educational Sciences with a focus on Educational Economics, Education Policy, and Educational Administration at Beijing Normal University (Degree: Master of Education)

09/2004 – 06/2008 Bachelor’s studies in Public Administration at Yantai University (Degree: Bachelor of Management; distinction: Outstanding Graduate)

Independent Research Projects and Third-Party Funding

• 07/2024–06/2027: Principal Investigator, DFG-funded project “Development of a Student Habitus Teacher Education for Elementary School as Part of Teacher Professionalization?”
• Since 2019: Longitudinal habilitation project “Biography, Habitus, and Profession – Habitus Formation of Prospective Primary School Teachers”
• 2012–2017: Doctoral project “Teacher Habitus at Exclusive Schools in China and Germany”, DFG Research Unit 1612 “Mechanisms of Elite Formation in the German Education System”
• 2009–2011: Master’s research project on teachers’ compensation policies for instructional performance within compulsory education in China
• 2008–2010: Research project on the implementation and effects of tuition-free teacher education policies in China
• 2008: Research project on teacher evaluation systems in rural secondary schools in Shandong Province

Publications

Monographs

Liu, Mei-Ling. (2018). Lehrerhabitus an exklusiven Schulen in China und Deutschland (Studien zur Schul- und Bildungsforschung). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-21274-2   

Liu, Mei-Ling. (2011). Evaluations on Teachers Merit Pay Policy in Compulsory Education Schools in Beijing. Beijing: Beijing Normal University. (Masterarbeit)

Journal Articles

Sun, Jin; Liu, Mei-Ling (2013). An Analysis of the German School Bus and Student Transport System. Comparative Education Review (CSSCI, Chinese), 35(2), pp. 62-68.

Niu, Zhikui; Liu, Mei-Ling (2012). A Discussion about the two-factor-theory of Frederick Herzberg    und the incentive Problem of Teacher Merit Pay Policy. Chinese Teacher. (4), pp. 27-30. Doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-2051.2012.04.011

Liu, Mei-Ling. (2011) An Analysis of Background and Problems of Teacher Merit Pay Policy Implementation in Compulsory Education. Teaching and Management: Theoretical Edition (Chinese). (1), pp. 5-7. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5872-B.2011.01.002

He, Fengqiu; Liu, Mei-Ling. (2011) Follow-up Studies on Implementation of Merit Pay at Compulsory Education School – based on the survey of primary and middle school masters, teachers and Basic education administration staff. Labor and Social Security. (2), pp. 4-9.

Niu, Zhikui; Liu, Mei-Ling. Privatization of Public Schools in China---Take Some Public Schools for Example. Faculty Research and Training (Japanese). 05/01/2010, pp. 68-73.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2010). An Analysis of Effectiveness of American Teacher Merit Pay Policies in Elementary Education. Exploring Education Development (CSSCI, Chinese). (5), pp. 56-61

Book-Chapters/ Contributions to Edited Volumes

Ulmcke, Adrian; Liu, Mei-Ling. (2025). Der Studierendenhabitus und seine Bedeutung für das Lehrer:in-Werden. In T. Leonhard (Hrsg.), Lehrer:in werden. Trajektorien in den Lehrberuf (S. 100–133). Verlag Julius Klinkhardt. doi:10.35468/6161-04   

Liu, Mei-Ling (2023). Training of primary and secondary school principals in Germany. In: Bao, Chuanyou (Eds.), Theories, Policies and Models of Principal Training in Primary and Secondary Schools in China (pp. 224-233) (Chinese). Changchun: Northeast Normal University Press.

Tänzer, Sandra; Mannhaupt, Gerd; Berger, Marcus; Godau, Marc; Liu, Mei-Ling; Schulze, Hendrikje; Winkelmann, Cindy. (2021). Was wirkt wirklich? Wie das Lernen in der Hochschullernwerkstatt zur Professionalisierung angehender Lehrkräfte beiträgt (Thillm-Produktion). In A. Jantowski (Hrsg.), Schule wirksam unterstützen. Bad Berka: Thüringer Institut für Lehrerfortbildung, Lehrplanentwicklung und Medien.

https://www.schulportal-thueringen.de/web/guest/media/detail?tspi=14405   

Berger, Marcus; Liu, Mei-Ling; Tänzer, Sandra; Schulze, Hendrikje; Mannhaupt, Gerd, & Winkelmann, Cindy. (2020). Wie wirkt sich das Lernen in einer Hochschullernwerkstatt auf Professionalisierungsprozesse von Lehramtsstudierenden aus? Ergebnisse aus der evaluativen Begleitforschung. In U. Stadler-Altmann, S. Schumacher, E.A. Emili & E. Dalla Torre (Hrsg.), Spielen, Lernen, Arbeiten in Lernwerkstätten. Facetten der Kooperation und Kollaboration (S. 78–86). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt.

Liu, Meiling; Niu, Zhikui. (2015). Auswahlverfahren an exklusiven Schulen in China – das Beispiel Peking. In: Helsper, W./Krüger, H.-H. (Hrsg.): Auswahl der Bildungsklientel zur Herstellung von Selektivität in „exklusiven“ Bildungsinstitutionen (S. 263-291). Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-09375-4_11   

Reviews

Liu, M.-L.: Rezension von: Benner, Dietrich / Meyer, Hilbert / Peng, Zhengmei / Li, Zhengtao (Hg.): Beiträge zum chinesisch-deutschen Didaktik-Dialog. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt 2018. In: EWR 18 (2019), Nr. 3 (Veröffentlicht am 31.07.2019), URL: http://www.klinkhardt.de/ewr/978378152238.html   

Conference Presentations, Workshops, and Invited Talks

Liu, Mei-Ling (2025). Organisation und Durchführung vom DFG-Projektworkshop “Fallstudien” im Rahmen des laufenden DFG-Projektes „Entwicklung eines Studierendenhabitus im Grundschullehramtsstudium als Bestandteil der Professionalisierung?“. 06.11.2025, Zentrum für Schul- und Bildungsforschung, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.

Liu, Mei-Ling; Parade, Ralf (2025). Das Primarschulsystem und die Lehrer:innenbildung in China - Historische Entwicklungen, aktuelle Strukturen und institutionelle Organisation. Beitrag auf der 33. Jahrestagung der DGfE-Kommission Grundschulforschung und Pädagogik der Primarstufe zum Thema „Bildung ohne Grenzen denken“. 16.-18.09.2025. Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg in Österreich.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2025). Hochbegabtenförderung und Reflexion der Schulkultur. Gastvortrag im Rahmen des „Science Cinema“, 30.04.2025, Universität Erfurt.

Ulmcke, Adrian; Liu, Mei-Ling (2024). Der Studierendenhabitus und seine Bedeutung für das Lehrer:in-Werden. Beitrag auf der Abschlusstagung TriLAN, 01.04-03.04.2024, Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2024). Entwicklung eines Studierendenhabitus im Lehramtsstudium unter Bedingungen einer doppelten Krisenhaftigkeit. Im Rahmen der AG: Liu, Mei-Ling; Dalhaus, Eva; te Poel, Kathrin. Habitusgenese und Professionalisierung von Lehramtsstudierenden in „krisenhaften“ (berufs-)biographischen Erfahrungsräumen. DGFE-Kongress 2024 in Halle.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2022). Entwicklung eines Studierendenhabitus im Grundschullehramtsstudiums als Bestandteil der Lehrerprofessionalisierung: eine längsschnittliche Fallstudie. Fallpräsentation im internationalen Workshop „Studierenenhabitus: Eine fallbasierte Annährung an ein noch aufzuschärfendes theoretisches Konzept“, Organisation und Moderation von Prof. Julia Kosinar, Moderation und Beratung von Prof. Rolf-Torsten Kramer. 01.03.2022, Zoommeeting.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2021). Habitus und Reflexion: Eine exemplarische Fallstudie zum Beginn des Grundschullehramtsstudiums. Einzelbeitrag auf der DGfE-Sektionstagung Schulpädagogik, 22.-24.09. 2021, Zoommeeting von Universität Osnabrück.

Berger, Marcus; Liu, Mei-Ling (2019). Wie wirkt sich das Lernen in einer Hochschullernwerkstatt auf Professionalisierungsprozesse von Lehramtsstudierenden aus – Erste Ergebnisse aus der evaluativen Begleitforschung. Abschlussbericht auf der Fachtagung zum Abschluss der ersten Phase des Projekts QUALITEACH (BMBF-Projekt), 23.05.2019 in Erfurt.

Berger, Marcus & Liu, Mei-Ling (2019): Wie wirkt sich das Lernen in einer Hochschullernwerkstatt auf Professionalisierungsprozesse von Lehramtsstudierenden aus – Erste Ergebnisse aus der evaluativen Begleitforschung. Vortrag auf der 12. internationalen Tagung der Hochschullernwerkstätten, 13.-15.02.2019 in Brixen.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2018). Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehungen an exklusiven Schulen in China und Deutschland. Einzelbeitrag auf der DGfE-Sektionstagung Schulpädagogik, 09.-11.09.2018 an der Universität Flensburg.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2018). Lehrerhabitus an exklusiven Schulen in China und Deutschland. Chinesischer Gastvortrag, 23.05.2018 an der Beijing Normal University.

Liu, Mei-Ling (2016). „Authoritative or Equal? “– A Comparison of Teachers’ Orientations in Relationship between Teachers and Students in Excellent Public High Schools in China and Germany. English Speech at the Word Congress of Comparative Education Societies, 22.-26.08.2016 an der Beijing Normal University.

Niu, Zhikui; Liu, Mei-Ling (2012). Teacher Merit pay in China: A case study in Beijing. Speech at the Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society. 22.-27.04.2012 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA).

Teaching

Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

WS 2024/25

• Seminar: Teacher-Student Relationships and School Socialization (all teacher education programs, reconstructive case-based approach)
• State Examination Courses for Upper Secondary / Gymnasium Teacher Education Programs

SS 2024

• Seminar: Teacher-Student Relationships and School Socialization (all teacher education programs, reconstructive case-based approach)

University of Erfurt

2022-2024

Supervision of master's theses in the field of school pedagogy and subject didactics for general studies, including several ‘excellent master's theses’ according to internal university criteria (primary supervisor)

SS 2024

• Master’s Thesis Colloquium (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Subject Didactics Practicum in Sachunterricht (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Seminar: Reconstructive Case Work (Master of Education, Primary Education)

WS 2023/24

• Master’s Thesis Colloquium (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Subject Didactics Practicum in Sachunterricht (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Contribution to interdisciplinary lecture series “Sachunterricht in Mediatisierten Lebenswelten”, own module: Mediated Transcultural Life Worlds of School Children (Introduction to Primary Education)

SS 2023

• Subject Didactics Practicum in Sachunterricht (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Seminar: Reconstructive Case Work (Master of Education, Primary Education)

WS 2022/23

• Subject Didactics Practicum in Sachunterricht (Master of Education, Primary Education)
• Seminar: Practice Projects on School-Based and Extracurricular Phenomena in Children’s Life Worlds (Bachelor in Primary Education)
• Contribution to interdisciplinary lecture series “Sachbildung in Mediatisierten Lebenswelten”, own module: Mediated Transcultural Life Worlds of School Children

WS 2021

• Contribution to interdisciplinary lecture series “Sachunterricht in Mediatisierten Lebenswelten”, own module: Mediated Transcultural Life Worlds of School Children

WS 2019-SS2022

• Two reconstructive case-based seminars per semester on

• pedagogical action in heterogeneous and intercultural/transcultural contexts (Bachelor in Primary Education, Primary Teacher Education)

Memberships and Academic Functions

• Since 04/2024 Member of the German Society for the Gifted Child and voluntary coordinator and consultant of the parent group in Erfurt
• Since 04/2024 Member of the Working Group on Case-Based Research (AG Kasuistik)
• Since 04/2024 Member of the Working Group “Professional Biographical Career Pathways” (IGSP)
• 06/2022 – 05/2024  Member of Senate Committee for Research and Early Career Support, University of Erfurt
• Since 03/2021 Founder and coordinator of the Working Group on Sequential Analytical Habitus Reconstruction for early career researchers (doctoral and habilitation candidates from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria)
• Since 07/2019 Regular participant in colloquia led by Prof. Dr. Rolf-Torsten Kramer
• Since 07/2019 Member of the Kassel–Halle Interpretation Workshop
• Since 01/2018 Member of the DGfE commissions “Professional Research and Teacher Education” and “Comparative and International Education” of the German Educational Research Association (DGfE)

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