Skip to content

Melissa Laufer, Dr. (on parental leave)

Melissa Laufer is head of the research program “Knowledge & Society” at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Through an interdisciplinary lens, Melissa investigates digitalization processes occurring in the science system and larger society. She is particularly passionate about the role technology plays in higher education and has published her research in numerous international journals. 

Melissa completed her doctorate in sociology at Ghent University (Belgium). In her dissertation, she explored the role university culture plays in the internationalization of higher education. Specifically, her research focused on change communication at the university, academic mobility, and academic careers. Previously, she earned a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication & European Studies at the Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Germany). She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon (USA), where she studied International Studies, German and Anthropology.

Prior to joining HIIG, Melissa worked as a researcher at York University (Canada), in an internationally comparative project that examined the post-study pathways of international students. From 2014 – 2018, Melissa held a research position at the Centre for Higher Education Governance Ghent at Ghent University. During her doctorate, Melissa was awarded several mobility scholarships and was a visiting scholar at the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), the National Chengchi University (Taiwan), and the Center for International Higher Education (Boston College). She is also a member of Early Career Higher Education Researchers (ECHER), the Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung, and the ECPR Standing Group – Knowledge Politics & Policies.

Journal articles and conference proceedings

Laufer, M., Deacon, B., Mende, M.A., & Schaefer, L.O. (2024). Leading with Trust: How University Leaders can Foster Innovation with Educational Technology through Organizational Trust. Innovative Higher Education. DOI: 10.1007/s10755-024-09733-5 Publication details

Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or foe? Exploring the implications of large language models on the science system. AI & Society, 38. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-023-01791-1 Publication details

Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., & Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or foe? Exploring the implications of large language models on the science system. AI & Soc. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-023-01791-1 Publication details

Timm, M., Deacon, B., Laufer, M, Schäfer, L. O. & Tschache, T. (2022). Atomisierung, Innovation und Organisation: Qualität der Lehre im ersten Digitalsemester. In M.Bigos, J. Hiebl, & I. Steinhardt (Eds.). Soziologische Betrachtungen zur Digitalisierung der Lehre (in der COVID-19-Pandemie) [Special issue] die hochschullehre, 8(28), 395-408. DOI: 10.3278/HSL2228W Publication details

Sabzalieva, E., El Masri, A., Joshi, A., Laufer, M., Trilokekar, R. & Haas, C. (2022). Ideal immigrants in name only? Shifting constructions and divergent discourses on the international student-immigration policy nexus in Australia, Canada, and Germany. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 6(2), 178-204. DOI: 10.1080/23322969.2022.2096106 Publication details

Deacon, B., Laufer, M. & Schäfer, L. O. (2022). Infusing Educational Technologies in the Heart of the University – A Systematic Literature Review from an Organisational Perspective. British Journal of Educational Technology, 0(0), 1-26. DOI: 10.1111/bjet.13277 Publication details

Huisman, J., Vlegels, J., Daenekindt, S., Seeber, M. & Laufer, M. (2021). How satisfied are international students? The role of town, gown and motivations. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. DOI: 10.1080/03057925.2020.1867826 Publication details

Laufer, M., Leiser, A., Deacon, B., Perrin de Brichambaut, P., Fecher, B., Kobsoda, C., & Hesse, F. (2021). Digital higher education: A divider or bridge builder? Leadership perspectives on EdTech in a COVID-19 reality. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(51). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239‐021‐00287‐6 Publication details

Elsholz, U., Fecher, B., Deacon, B., Schäfer, L.O., & Laufer, M. (2021). Implikationen der Covid-19-Pandemie für digitale Lehre: Organisierte Freiheit als Veränderungsparadigma. MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie Und Praxis Der Medienbildung, 40(CoViD-19), 472-86. DOI: 10.21240/mpaed/40/2021.11.29.X Publication details

Laufer, M. (2020). Crossing academic borders: exploring the role of social capital in academic hiring. Comparative Education, 56(3). DOI: 10.1080/03050068.2020.1782603 Publication details

Laufer, M. (2019). Spinning stories: Communicating internationalization through organizational storytelling. Journal of Studies in International Education, 1-15. DOI: 10.1177/1028315319893652 Publication details

Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2019). The invisible Others: stories of international doctoral student drop-out. Higher Education, 78(1), 165-181. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-018-0337-z Publication details

Book contributions and chapters

Schäfer, L. O., Deacon, B. & Laufer, M. (2023). Die Rolle der Digitalisierungsstrategien bei der Implementierung digitaler Lehre. In Lorenz Mrohs, Julia Franz, Dominik Herrmann, Konstantin Lindner & Thorsten Staake (Eds.), Digitale Kulturen der Lehre entwickeln. Perspektiven der Hochschuldidaktik. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43379-6_3 Publication details

Laufer, M. Deacon, B. & Schäfer, L. O. (2022). The Power of Informal Networks: How Middle Management, Central Leadership and Trust can Impact Innovation at the University. In F. W. Hesse, C. Kobsda & C. Schemmann, Digital Transformation of Higher Education—Global Learning Report 2022. (pp. 21-23). Berlin: Global Learning Council (GLC), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD), Times Higher Education (THE). DOI: 10.21241/ssoar.79627 Publication details

Laufer, M. (2017). Learning from Others, not about Others: investigating intercultural learning and intercultural competence in the university classroom. In R. Bettmann, V. Hinnenkamp, A. Satola & N. Schröer (Eds.), Die Hochschule als interkultureller Aushandlungsraum: Eine Bildungs-Exploration am Beispiel eines internationalen Studiengangs (pp. 181-199). Wiesbaden: Springer. Publication details

Bettmann, R., Hinnenkamp, V., Laufer, M. & Schröer, N. (2017). Interkulturelle Gruppenarbeit als Herausforderung. Vermeidungsstrategien und Chancen. In R. Bettmann, V. Hinnenkamp, A. Satola & N. Schröer (Eds.), Die Hochschule als interkultureller Aushandlungsraum: Eine Bildungs-Exploration am Beispiel eines internationalen Studiengangs (pp. 65-87). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. Publication details

Laufer, M. (2017). Breaking the code: exploring how academics secure employment abroad. In A. Woldegiyorgis, L. Rumbley & H. De Wit (Eds.), The Boston College Center for International Higher Education Year in Review, 2016 – 2017, 6 (pp. 25-27). Boston: Boston College Center for International Higher Education. Publication details

Other publications

Deacon, B., & Laufer, M. (2024). Resistance to change: Challenges and opportunities in digital higher education. Digital society blog. Publication details

Laufer, M., Kuper, F., Mende, M. A., Schäfer, L. O., Tschache T., & Deacon, B. (2023). Organizing Digital Change at the University. The Practitioners’ Field Guide for Implementing Educational Technology. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details

Fecher, B., Hebing, M., Laufer, M., Pohle, J., Sofsky, F. (2023). Friend or Foe? Exploring the Implications of Large Language Models on the Science System. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Publication details

Laufer, M., Mende, M., & Sievering, M. (2023). EdTech: The secret to its implementation. Digital society blog. Publication details

Deacon, B., Laufer, M. & Sokolovska, N. (2022). Sharing knowledge: Impact of Covid-19 on digital teaching. Digital society blog. Publication details

Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2020). Transferring research to practice: Exploring post-publication possibilities. ECHER Blog. Publication details

Laufer, M. & Deacon, B. (2020). The rapid digital turn: How are universities faring? Digital Society Blog. Publication details

Laufer, M. & Gorup, M. (2019). The invisible Others: stories of international doctoral student dropout. Supervising PhDs. Publication details

Laufer, M. (2016). Narrative Turn. Thema Hoger Onderwijs, 23 (1), 111-112. Publication details

Huisman, J., Brockerhoff, L. & Laufer, M. (2015). Quality in higher education: A literature review. Scoping Report for the Dutch Education Council. Publication details

Lectures and presentations

Resisting Digital Change at Higher Education Institutions: Identifying Triggers and Countermeasures
CHER 36th Annual Conference. University of Luxembourg, Esch an der Alzette, Luxemburg: 05.09.2024

Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer, Maricia Aline Mende

Sensemaking and the future university: Exploring the role digitalization strategies play for university teachers’ engagement with EdTech
40th EGOS Colloquium - Crossroads for Organizations: Time, Space, and People. EGOS. University of Milan-Bicocca, Mailand, Italien: 05.07.2024

Bronwen Deacon, Freia Kuper, Melissa Laufer, Marvin Sievering, Len Ole Schäfer

Ein Diskurs über Verantwortung - Krise, Resilienz und EdTech an Hochschulen
University:Future Festival 2024 - Tales of Tomorrow. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland: 05.06.2024 Further information

Maricia Aline Mende, Marvin Sievering, Bronwen Deacon, Freia Kuper, Melissa Laufer

The intersection of resilience, creativity and edtech: A conceptual framework for universities
39th EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies) colloquium. University of Cagliari. Online, Cagliari, Italy: 06.07.2023 Further information

Melissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer, Freia Kuper, & Bronwen Deacon

How to Organize Edtech at the University: A Practitioner's Field Guide for Implementing Edtech
University:Future Festival 2023. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 27.04.2023 Further information

Melissa Laufer, Freia Kuper, Maricia Aline Mende, Len Ole Schäfer & Tiana Tschache.

Die Rolle der Digitalisierungsstrategien bei der Implementierung und dem Erhalt digitaler Lehre
Symposium. Digitale Kulturen der Lehre entwickeln. (Session: Rahmenbedingungen digitaler Lehre). University of Bamberg. University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany: 07.10.2022 Further information

Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer

Leadership in Digital Change: An exploration of organizational trust and innovation in universities
44th Annual EAIR Forum 2022. Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST), Malta. Online, Paola, Malta: 06.09.2022 Further information

Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, & Len Ole Schäfer

Organizational conditions and dynamics of digital teaching.
Academic Practice and Technology (APT): Shaping academic practice through diversity and flexibility. UCL, LSE, Imperial College London, Kingston University & Queen Mary University London. Online, London, UK: 01.07.2022 Further information

Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon, & Melissa Laufer

Paper presentation: When Doctoral Advisors Become Adversaries: Doctoral Student Accounts of Relationships with Advisors Gone Wrong
Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting. Society for Applied Anthropology. Online, Salt Lake City, UT, USA: 22.03.2022 Further information

Meta Gorup, Melissa Laufer

Qualität in der digitalen Lehre – Eine Untersuchung von Einflussfaktoren
Tagung der Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung 2021. Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung. Online, Siegen, Germany: 16.09.2021 Further information

Moritz Timm, Bronwen Deacon, Melissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer

Enge und lose Kopplungen in der Hochschule – Die COVID-19 Pandemie und digitale Lehre
Soziologische Betrachtungen zur Digitalisierung der Lehre (in der COVID-19-Pandemie). DIPF | Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation. Online, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: 10.09.2021 Further information

Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer, Moritz Timm, Melissa Laufer

The Rapid Digital Turn: An Exploration into the Tight and Loose Coupling of University Structures [paper presentation]
43rd Annual EAIR Forum 2021: Transformation Fast and Slow: Quality, Trust and Digitalisation in Higher Education.. Humboldt University of Berlin. Online, Berlin, Germany: 10.09.2021 Further information

Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer, Melissa Laufer

Re-imagining higher education: Shifting gears and shifting visions
UNIVERSITY:FUTURE FESTIVAL - LEARNING, SYSTEMS AND THE NEW NORMAL. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 08.10.2020 Further information

Anne Leiser, Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, Christian Kobsda

Lehren in der Krise, Lernen aus der Krise? Erfolg & Verstetigung digitaler Lehr- und Lerninnovationen
UNIVERSITY:FUTURE FESTIVAL - LEARNING, SYSTEMS AND THE NEW NORMAL. Hochschulforum Digitalisierung. Online, Berlin, Germany: 07.10.2020 Further information

Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon, Len Ole Schäfer

ECER 2018 (Session: The Changing Academic Profession: Exploring Hiring Stories of Academics). European Educational Research Association. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy: 04.09.2018 Further information

Melissa Laufer

40th Annual EAIR Forum 2018 (Session: Balancing the global with the local: a study of internationalization at a Taiwanese university). European Higher Education Society (EAIR). Central European University, Budapest, Hungary: 26.08.2018 Further information

Melissa Laufer

42nd Annual ASHE Conference 2017 (Session: The invisible others: stories of international doctoral student drop-out). Association for the Study of Higher Education. Marriott Marquis, Houston, TX, United States: 09.11.2017 Further information

Melissa Laufer & Meta Gorup

Annual Conference: Consortium for Higher Education Researchers (Session: Learning to swim in a new pond : exploring academic job securement abroad). Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). Jyväskylän Yliopisto, Helsinki, Finland: 28.08.2017 Further information

Melissa Laufer & Julie Birkholz

EAIE 28th Annual Conference 2016 (Session: The power of stories: interpretations of internationalization in university cultures). European Association for International Education. St George’s Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom: 13.09.2016

Poster Presented

Annual Conference: Consortium for Higher Education Researchers (Session: The stories we tell: exploring how storytelling is used to legitimize internationalization at the university). Consortium for Higher Education Researchers. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom: 05.09.2016 Further information

Melissa Laufer & Jelle Mampaey

32nd EGOS Colloquium (Session: Unravelling the internationalization tale: exploring the legitimizing power of internationalization stories within university cultures). European Group of Organization Studies. University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy: 08.07.2016

Melissa Laufer

Panels

SRHE Conference 2022, Mobilities in Higher Education. Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE). Online, London, UK: 05.12.2022 Further information

Melissa Laufer, Len Ole Schäfer, Bronwen Deacon

Moderation of workshops and panels

Channelling support for institutional internationalisation through storytelling
EAIE 29th Annual Conference 2017. FIBES, Seville, Spain: 12.09.2017 Further information

Melissa Laufer

Organisation of events

The Rapid Digital Turn: An Exploration into the Tight and Loose Coupling of University Structures
Understanding Digital Transformations of Higher Education Teaching and Learning in the Nordics and Beyond. From 30.03.2021 to 31.07.2021. Online, Online, Online. Co-Organised by: Universities of Agder (Norway) Aarhus (Denmark) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) (International) Further information

Melissa Laufer, Bronwen Deacon

Media appearances

Fear, loathing and ideology: Why academics resist edtech (01.04.2023). University World News
Further information

Why do some international doctoral students decide to drop out? (17.12.2018). ECHER Blog
Further information

Melissa Laufer | HIIG

Position

Head of Research Programme: Knowledge & Society

RESEARCH PROGRAMME / GROUP

Expertise

Topics: Digital Higher Education, Educational Technology, Digital Transformation of Universities