News
18.11.2025
International cooperation in times of crisis
University of Tübingen and UCI Irvine sign memorandum of understanding to formalize intensive collaboration
At a time when international cooperation and academic freedom are under pressure worldwide, the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the School of Education, University of California, Irvine (UCI) are sending a clear signal in favor of openness, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to excellence in research and teaching.
On June 24, 2025, the parties involved, Ulrich Trautwein, Director of the Hector Institute for Empirical Educational Research, and Julie A. Washington, Director of the School of Education and the University of California, Irvine, signed a memorandum of understanding on the American side. The agreement aims to formalize and systematically deepen the long-standing scientific cooperation in the field of educational research. The Hector Institute has already been able to attract several researchers, including Nia Nixon, as visiting professors. Among other things, the exchange of scientists and the development of joint teaching programs are planned.
“The memorandum is more than a formal agreement. It is an expression of a shared understanding of good science: internationally networked, transparent in cooperation, and based on mutual trust. This allows us to lay the foundation for long-term partnerships in research, teaching, and academic exchange,” emphasizes Ulrich Trautwein, Executive Director of the Hector Institute for Empirical Educational Research.
Nia Nixon, Associate Professor at the University of California, Irvine, also underscores the significance of the agreement: “This partnership provides an excellent opportunity to advance collaborative research and to foster innovative approaches to student learning across borders.”
The cooperation will be immediately underpinned by joint projects. Scientists from both institutions are working together on the project “Collaborative Problem-Solving in Small Groups” (CoPSiG) to investigate how the gender composition of small groups affects the application of key problem-solving skills. The focus is on nine specific skills, such as information exchange, negotiation, and task execution. The aim is to reveal gender-specific dynamics in collaborative learning processes and to explore the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT in such contexts.
Close cooperation with UCI is also planned in the AEyeCoL (“AI-supported Eye-Tracking in Collaborative Learning”) project. This project investigates how AI-supported eye-tracking technologies can be used to analyze and specifically promote collaborative learning processes in real time. By combining eye movement data and interaction histories, the aim is to gain new insights into group processes and develop adaptive support measures for learners.
In addition, researchers from both locations are collaborating on other projects that focus on the use of AI-supported tools such as ChatGPT to promote academic writing and improve feedback processes. Here, the teams are pooling their expertise to develop innovative approaches for university teaching and educational research.
Media Contact
Philipp Sigle
presse@lead.uni-tuebingen.de