Prof. Dr. Susanne Wißhak
Professor for Educational Science with Focus on Organizational Development
Bürgerstraße 23
Room 178
third floor
76829 Landau
Contact:
Tel.: +49 6341 280 32265
E-Mail: susanne.wisshak(at)rptu.de
Office hours:
Tuesday, 14:00 - 15:00 Uhr
During lecture-free period: by e-mail appointment
Theses
I supervise theses on topics such as continuing education transfer in organisations, transfer knowledge of trainers, train-the-trainer certificates, continuing education mentors, workplace design, diversity measures in organisations, experiential education and transfer promotion in university teaching. Please note: I do not supervise theses that are subject to a confidentiality clause imposed by companies.
Tracking sheets
Students can hand in their tracking sheets at the office or post them in the letterbox of the Institute for Business Education/Human Resource Development on Bürgerstraße. Please indicate for which seminar you need a signature and from whom.

About
| 2023 | Habilitation in Educational Science Title of habilitation thesis: Promotion of transfer in job-related continuing education - professional competencies of trainers, University of Konstanz |
| since 2023 | Junior professorship (W1 with tenure track to W2) in educational science with focus on organizational development, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau |
| 2017-2022 | Postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Human Resource Development, University of Konstanz |
| 2017 | Doctorate in economics Title of dissertation: Qualification and professional knowledge of trainers in job-related continuing education; Summa Cum Laude, University of Konstanz |
| 2012-2017 | Doctoral student at the Chair of Human Resources Development, University of Konstanz |
Peer-Reviewed journals:
Wißhak, S., de Jong, B., & Hochholdinger, S. (2025). Transfer knowledge among hard-skills trainers and soft-skills trainers [Manuscript submitted for publication].
De Jong, B., & Wißhak, S. (2025). The predictive value of training content and trainer characteristics on trainers’ knowledge about transfer of training. Journal of Workplace Learning [accepted].
Zirn, F. L., & Wißhak, S. (2025). The impact of diversity training on workplace behavior – a meta-analysis. Journal of Workplace Learning. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-03-2025-0051
Wißhak, S., Naumann, A., Koch, A., & Spener, C. (2025). Trainers’ knowledge of training transfer: Exploration of a crucial yet uncharted concept. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-025-01318-y
Wißhak, S., Schäfer, P. & van Waveren, L. (2025). Train‐the‐trainer: A generic offer‐and‐use model for the development of trainers. International Journal of Training and Development, 29(4), 449–461. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12370
Koch, A., & Wißhak, S. (2025). Strengthening trainers' transfer knowledge: An intervention study. International Journal of Training and Development, 29(2), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12349
Barth, D., & Wißhak, S. (2023). Die wahrgenommene Verantwortung von Trainer/innen für kurzfristige und langfristige Trainingsergebnisse. Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift Für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO), 54(3), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-023-00704-6
Wißhak, S., & Stanik, T. (2023). Beratungskompetenz von Weiterbildungspersonal: Wie wird Wissen konzeptualisiert und operationalisiert? Ein Systematisierungsversuch. Zeitschrift Für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report, 46(2), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-023-00250-0
Koch, A., Wißhak, S., Spener, C., Naumann, A. & Hochholdinger, S. (2022). Transferwissen von Lehrenden in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung: Entwicklung und Pilotierung eines Testinstruments. Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report, 45(1), 89–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-022-00210-0
Wißhak, S. (2022). Transfer in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung: Systematisches Literaturreview und Synthese mit Blick auf die Handlungsmöglichkeiten der Lehrenden. Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report, 45(1), 69–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-022-00204-y
Wißhak, S. & Barth, D. (2022). Perceptions of accountability for the transfer of training by leadership trainers. International Journal of Training and Development, 26(2), 209–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12255
Wißhak, S. & Hochholdinger, S. (2021). Wie erleben und bewältigen Lehrende der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung Folgen der Corona-Pandemie? Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung, 44(3), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-021-00193-4
Wißhak, S., Bonnes, C. & Hochholdinger, S. (2021). ProwisT – Ein Instrument zur Einschätzung des professionellen Handlungswissens von Trainer/innen. Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO), 52(2), 361–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-021-00573-x
Wißhak, S., & Hochholdinger, S. (2020). Perceived instructional requirements of soft-skills trainers and hard-skills trainers. Journal of Workplace Learning, 32(6), 405–416. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-02-2020-0029
Wißhak, S., Bonnes, C., Keller, I., Barth, D., & Hochholdinger, S. (2020). Qualifikationen von Lehrenden in der beruflich-betrieblichen Weiterbildung. Zeitschrift Für Bildungsforschung, 10(1), 103–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s35834-020-00262-7
Wißhak, S., & Hochholdinger, S. (2018). Trainers’ knowledge and skills from the perspective of trainers, trainees and human resource development practitioners. International Journal of Training Research, 16(3), 218–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/14480220.2018.1576327
Wißhak, S., & Hochholdinger, S. (2016). Analyse der Inhalte erziehungswissenschaftlicher Studiengänge im Hinblick auf eine spätere Tätigkeit in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung. Zeitschrift Für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report, 39(1), 97–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-016-0054-0
Wißhak, S., & Hochholdinger, S. (2015). „Zaubern“ lernen – Welche pädagogischen Inhalte umfassen sogenannte Trainerausbildungen? Zeitschrift Für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report, 38(1), 113–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-015-0012-2
Contributions to anthologies
Koch, A., & Wißhak, S. (2024). Anforderungen an Qualifizierungsangebote für das betriebliche Weiterbildungspersonal. In S. Bohlinger, I. Krause, J. Dienel, L. Kresse & M. Niethammer (Hrsg.), Berufsbildung, Arbeit und Innovation: Bd. 80. Betriebliches Aus- und Weiterbildungspersonal im Fokus der Berufsbildungsforschung (1. Aufl., S. 175–187). wbv. https://doi.org/10.3278/9783763976362
Bonnes C., Wißhak S., & Hochholdinger S. (2019). Towards a Model of Professional Competence of Workplace Trainers. In M. Pilz, K. Breuing & S. Schumann (Hrsg.), Berufsbildung zwischen Tradition und Moderne. Festschrift für Thomas Deißinger zum 60. Geburtstag (Internationale Berufsbildungsforschung, 1. Auflage 2019, S. 141-158). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH; Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-24460-6_9
Other publications
Wißhak, S. & Spener, C. (2022). Assessing Trainers’ Knowledge of the Transfer of Training: Test Construction and Validation: Paper für die Jahrestagung der American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2022, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3102/1889746
Barth, D. & Wißhak, S. (2021). Interviewerhebung - Perceptions of Responsibility by Adult Education Practitioners (PRAEP). DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education. https://doi.org/10.7477/588:1:0
Wißhak, S. (2021). Auswirkungen der Coronakrise auf die Lehrenden in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung – eine Webparade. Hessische Blätter für Volksbildung (2), 97.
Wißhak, S. (2017). Qualifizierung und professionelles Wissen von Lehrpersonen in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung. Dissertation, Universität Konstanz. Konstanz. Verfügbar unter http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-2--qjhzazjd0xb83
- Professionalization of trainers in continuing vocational education and training
- Transfer of training in organizations
- Guidance competencies
- Diversity measures in organizations
| 2025-2026 | Projekt Entwicklung und Evaluation Zertifikat Erlebnispädagogik (ZEP) mit Michael Zimmer-Müller, Anna Thomas, Claudia Reidick und Florian Kiuppis Förderlinie: InterAct for RPTU Profilentwicklung in Studium und Lehre |
| 2024-2025 | Projekt Transferförderliche Hochschullehre – ein standortübergreifendes Blended-Learning-Angebot mit Pia Schäfer Förderlinie: InterAct for RPTU Profilentwicklung in Studium und Lehre |
| 2023 | Projekt TransWiss: Transferwissen von Lehrenden in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung: Erprobung und Validierung eines Messinstruments |
| 2022 | Projekt „Lerntransfer-Booster“ in Kooperation mit dem Weiterbildungsanbieter Dr. Sammet & Wolf Fördergeber: Intersectoral Cooperation Programme des Zukunftskollegs der Universität Konstanz im Rahmen der Exzellenzstrategie |
| 2020-2021 | Projekt EWE: Entwicklung eines Wissenstests für Erwachsenenbildner*innen Fördergeber: Independent Research Grant und Young Scholar Fund der Universität Konstanz im Rahmen der Exzellenzstrategie |
| 2020 | Projekt Changes, challenges, and opportunities in the training and development sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kooperation mit dem Weiterbildungsanbieter Dr. Sammet & Wolf |
| 2020 | Projekt PRAEP: Perceived Responsibility of Adult Education Practitioners |
1. BA BPE 2.1 – Human Resource Development / Organisational Development
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: BS 085
How can an organisation's human resources be developed? How does a company develop?
These questions will be explored in this course. Students will learn basic concepts and models of human resource and organisational development. This also includes common practices such as mentoring, coaching, training and change management.
Building on the theoretical and empirical foundations developed in the course, students work in groups on practical case studies. Students present their proposed solutions in the seminar and document them in the form of a seminar paper or a learning video, if applicable.
The aim is for students to become familiar with common concepts, models and methods of human resource and organisational development, apply them to specific problems and reflect on them critically.
Students will receive the literature during the course.
2. BA BPE 3.3 – In-company training and continuing education
Time: Tuesdays, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: BS 087
In-company training and continuing education comprise measures taken within companies with the aim of ensuring that trainees, employees, teams and ultimately entire organisations become or remain competitive.
In this course, various training and continuing education measures are developed on a scientific basis.
Based on company case studies, students independently develop theory- and evidence-based solutions, which they present in the seminar and, if necessary, record in the form of a seminar paper or a learning video.
Students will receive the literature in the course.
Credit points can be earned through the following academic achievements
| Presentation of a case study + proposed solution (group work) | 75 min | 1 CP |
| Seminar paper: Written documentation of case study + proposed solution (individual work) | 5 pages | 1 CP |
Further information is available at the event
For students of educational science according to the new PO 2025, there is no need to collect credit points via the tracking sheet.
Apart from regular and active participation, academic achievement is required in the form of
| Presentation of a case study + proposed solution (group work) | 75 min |
to complete the module as attended.