• Vicedean for Education at the Department of Educational Sciences
• Head of the History of Education Research Unit

• Head of the International research Group Histoy of Educational Ecologies (HEC)

  Further functions are listed unter the Committees section (Gremien) on the website of the Dean's Office (Dekanat).

Since October 2017
Professor of History of Education at the Department of Educational Sciences, RPTU - University Kaiserslautern-Landau (previously University Koblenz-Landau), Campus Landau 
2017
Visiting scholar, Università degli Studi di Sassari (Italy)
2012-2017
Professor of History of Education at the Deparment of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University (Belgium)
2009-2010
Visiting Scholar, University of Birmingham (UK)
2007-2012
Professor of History of Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Head of the Centre for the History of Education, Academic Coordinator of the Archives and Documentation Centre for the History of Education, KU Leuven (Belgium) 
2004-2007
Postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven (Belgium) 
2004
PhD in Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven (Belgium)
1998
Master in History, KULeuven (Belgium)
1995
Teacher-Training  Programme at the Teacher Training College, Turnhout (Belgium), subjects: History, Geography, Dutch

Professor Van Gorp’s interest in history, education and architecture, which developed at an early age, led him to explore and explain educational thinking and practices in relation to the dimensions of time and space. His research into the history of education has focused primarily on progressive education, particularly the life and work of Belgian educational reformer Ovide Decroly (1871–1932), and how his ideas have been received and adopted by Decrolyans to the present day. Visual sources, particularly educational and documentary films, as well as social photography, occupy a special place in his research.

In recent years, Professor Van Gorp’s work on educational ecology topics has been characterised by the following keywords: social inequality/ critical case studies, biographical research/ appropriation, visual history/ cultural learning, urbanity/ educational architecture, democracy education/ sustainability, complexity/ interdisciplinarity, and public history/ activism.

Professor Van Gorp believes that an international and cross-disciplinary approach is indispensable, and he enjoys thinking outside the box. He also likes to encourage this attitude in students, staff and colleagues.

2026-2030: Education and Disability in History (EDUDIS) funded by the Swedish Research Council, co-applicant (PI: A. Larsson, Umeå University)

2026-2029: Educational Innovation as a Historical Construction: Preservation and Transformation (INNOVA) funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, co-applicant (PI: F. Comas Rubí, Universitat de les Illes Balears)

2019-2023: Research on Education in Transition (ForBilT), Profile area “Education in Transition”, Research Initiative Programme of Rhineland-Palatinate (FI RLP 2017-2018) funded by the Ministry of Science, Continuing Education and Culture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate; co-applicant (Consortium FB5, spokesperson: A. Wildemann, RPTU Landau)

2017-2021: Public Pedagogy and Sustainability Challenges, Scientific Research Network (FWO-WOG), funded by the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), co-applicant (spokesperson: T. Block, University of Ghent)

2015-2019: Research project, A prosopographic approach to Belgian refugees in Birmingham during the First World War, 1914-1919 (Ref. 01N02015) funded by the BOF Special Research Fund, University of Ghent, applicant and supervisor

2009-2010: Documentary Film in Educational Research (DFER), Small Research Grant, funded by The British Academy, co-applicant (spokesperson: I. Grosvenor, University of Birmingham)

2006-2010: Research project, Ethno-history of the primary school as the key to an understanding of the pedagogical paradox (Ref. OT/06/024), funded by the BOF Special Research Fund, KU Leuven, co-applicant (with M. Depaepe) and supervisor

2007-2009: Research project, Cultural disclosure of private archives: Development of an online database of textbooks in Flanders and disclosure of important textbook collections (1880-1940) (Ref. ADB-P-0617, ADB-P- 0712, ADB-P-0816) funded by the Heritage Department of the Flemish authorities, KU Leuven, co-applicant (with M. Depaepe) and supervisor

International Cooperations

An international network dedicated to the appropriation history of Decrolyanism is in its preparatory stage. 

Since 2021: History of Educational Ecologies International Research Group (HEC), together with Ian Grosvenor and Sian Roberts (University of Birmingham, UK), Eulàlia Collelldemont und Núria Padrós (University of Vic, Spanien), Björn Norlin and Inês Félix (Umeå University, Schweden), Frederik Herman (FHNW, Schweiz), Ana Paz (University of Lisbon, Portugal) and Susanne Spieker (RPTU in Landau)

2014-2016: International Research Group Cultural Learning and the engaged university, funded by the European Educational Research Association, EERA 

2009-2010: International Research Group Documentary Film in Educational Research (DFER), funded by The British Academy (PI: I. Grosvenor, University of Birmingham) 

2000-2011: International Research Community Philosophy and History of the Discipline of Education, funded by the FWO (Coordinators: P. Smeyers and M. Depaepe, KU Leuven)

• International Standing Conference for the History of Education (ISCHE)
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE)
• Deutscher Hochschulverband (DHV)

Current activities 

• Scout in the Henriette Herz-Scouting-Programme, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
• Scientific Committee/International Editorial Board, Historia y Memoria de l‘Educación (journal), Rivista di Storia dell‘Educazione (journal), Storia dell‘educazione in Europa (journal), Historia Educationis (book series), Studies in the History of Education and Culture/Studien zur Bildungs- und Kulturgeschichte (book series)
• Reviewer (English, German, French, Dutch): e.g. Paedagogica Historica, History of Education, Encounters in Theory and History of Education, European Review of History, Oxford Review of History, Jahrbuch für Historische Bildungsforschung, The Senses and Society, Visual  Studies, PalgraveMcMillan (Book publishing proposals)

Past activities 

• Executive Committee/Secretary, International Standing Conference for the History of Education (ISCHE)
• Editor/International Advisory Board, Paedagogica Historica (journal)
• Board/Secretary, Stichting (Foundation) Paedagogica Historica
• Convenor/Tutor, International History of Education Doctoral Summer School (HEDSS)
• (link-)Convenor, Network 17 Histories of Education, European Educational Research Association (EERA)
• International Correspondent, Voices of War and Peace World War One Engagement Centre, UK
• International corresponding member, DOMUS Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Histories of Education and Childhood, University of Birmingham, UK
• Vice-President, Belgian-Dutch Society for the History of Education (BNVGOO)

<Please feel free to contact me personally if your are interested.>

As supervisor:

Ongoing dissertations:

• Marlene Jäger: Bildungsbiographien und Identität junger Frauen aus Bauernfamilien. Die Landwirtschaftsschule in Rheinland-Pfalz und dem Saarland zwischen 1950 und 1990 (since 2025, RPTU)
• Paulina Päckert: Biografien im Spannungsfeld von Macht und Subjektivierung: Der pädagogische Einfluss von Heimen nach  der stationären Jugendhilfe auf die Lebenswege von Care Leaver:innen in Baden-Württemberg seit 1945 (since 2025, RPTU)
• Dinah Kyi-Drago: Die Frage der Disziplin an Schulen in Deutschland. Ein generationenübergreifender Überblick auf der Grundlage von Berichten von Zeitzeugen in Deutschland über ihre Grundschulzeit von den 1930er Jahren bis in die Gegenwart (since 2024, RPTU)
• Marco Messina: Untersuchung des Zusammenhangs zwischen dem Bildungsverständnis der OECD und der Humankapitaltheorie zwischen 1960 und 2000 unter Zuhilfenahme des Aneignungskonzepts (since 2023, RPTU)

Completed dissertations:

• Jascha Hook: Professionswissen und Lebensgeschichten von Politiklehrerinnen und -lehrern der Kriegskindergeneration (PhD 2024, RPTU)
• Heidi Degerickx: Participation of people in poverty in social policy making: A historical study of the rhetoric of self-advocacy organisations (PhD 2020, Ghent University, Belgium, with Prof. Dr. Griet Roets)
• Cedric Goossens: Urban education as a lever towards community building: A historical perspective (PhD 2019, Ghent University, Belgium, with Prof. Dr. Lieve Bradt and Prof. Dr. Stijn Oosterlynck)
• Jan Devos: Freinet in Flanders: Origin, appropriation and present discourses of freinet pedagogy (PhD 2019, Ghent University, Belgium, with. Prof. Dr. Michel Vandenbroeck)
• Jolien De Vuyst: Refugee relief during the First World War: Belgian refugees in Birmingham, 1914-1919 (PhD 2019, Ghent University, Belgium, with Prof. Dr. Ilse Derluyn and Dr. Kevin Myers)
• Frederik Herman: School Culture in the 20th Century - Mentality and Reality History of the Primary School (PhD 2010, KU Leuven, Belgium, with Prof. Dr. Marc Depaepe)

As a member of the supervisiory team/committee:

Completed dissertations:

• Kenneth Arctander: From specialised medical health care to recovery-oriented community based care and back: A historical analysis of social work practices in addiction treatment in Norway (2024, Ghent University, Belgium)
• Evelyne Deceur: Sociaal-cultureel werk als democratische arena: De inzet van participatieve praktijken in stedelijke contexten (PhD 2017, Ghent University, Belgium)
• Leo Van Garsse: Hulpverlening en/of strafrechterlijke sanctionering?: Een social-pedagogische analyse van de ontwikkeling van het forensisch welzijnswerk in Vlaanderen (PhD 2015, Ghent University, Belgium)
• Sarah Vanruyskensvelde: Education in turmoil. A history of Catholic secondary education during the Second World War in Belgium (PhD 2014, KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Milton George: Semper Progrediens: A story of the coming of age of education in Sint Maarten (1954-2000) (PhD 2013, KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Walter Kusters: The presence-absence ambiguity of the Belgian migrant child in Northern France (1870-1914). A study of the role of education, citizenship, and oblivion in cultural identity formation (PhD 2012, KU Leuven, Belgium)

As a reviewer/member of the doctoral jury:

Completed dissertations:

• Bart Vranckx: Appropriation, Transformation and Use of Creativity in Postwar Primary Education in Belgium (PhD 2019, KU Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Belgium)
• Pieter Fannes: Creative Anxiety: A conceptual history of creativity in education (PhD 2019, KU Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Belgium)
• Jan Van Wiele: Textbook Historiography as History "Writ Small"? Towards a New Specific Model of Textbook Research on the Representation of Non-Christian Religions and Cultures (1870-1950) in the "New Cultural History of Education (PhD 2011, KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Peter Iwunna: The Impact of the Christian Missionary Education on the Educational Development of Nigeria. A Case Study of the Primary School Educational Activities of the Catholic Mission in Igboland (1925-1970) (PhD 2009, KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Geert Thyssen: Between Utopia and Dystopia? Case Studies of Open-Air Schools in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy (1904-1979) (PhD 2009, KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Tom De Coster: Wat is er in Vlaanderen met het progressief pedagogisch erfgoed gebeurd? Receptie- en implementatiegeschiedenis van ‘emancipatorische’ opvoedingsmodellen in de neoliberale context van na de jaren 1960 (PhD 2008, Ghent University, Belgium)

A complete list can be found here (ResearchGate). 

Latest publications

Van Gorp, A. (2026). The art of the possible: Educational history as a radical practice. Historia y Memoria de la Educación, 23, 27-62. 

Highlighted publications 

Single-authored

Van Gorp, A. (2021). Imagineering eine demokratische Gesellschaft: Ein Plädoyer für eine engagierte historische Bildungsforschung. In A. Wischmann, S. Spieker, D. Salomon & J.-M. Springer (Eds.). Jahrbuch für Pädagogik 2020: Neue Arbeitsverhältnissen – Neue Bildung (91-101). Weinheim: Beltz.

Van Gorp, A. (2020). “Like air bricks on earth”: Notes on developing a research agenda regarding the post-war legacy of new education. Espacio, Tiempo y Educación, 7(1), 7-25.

Van Gorp, A. (2019). Requiem for Gary: Cultivating Wasteland in and beyond the “Age of Steel”. In K. Priem & F. Herman (Eds.). Fabricating Modern Societies: Education, Body and Mind in the “Age of Steel” (219-240). Leiden: Brill.

Van Gorp, A. (2017). “Springing from a sense of wonder”: Classroom film and cultural learning in the 1930s. Paedagogica Historica, 53(3), 285-299.

Van Gorp, A. (2011). The Decroly School in documentaries (1930s-1950s): Contextualizing propaganda from within. Paedagogica Historica, 47, 507-523.

Van Gorp, A. (2006). Ovide Decroly, a hero of education: Some reflections on the effects of educational hero worship. In P. Smeyers & M. Depaepe (eds.), Educational research: Why ‘what works’ doesn’t work (pp. 37-49). Dordrecht: Springer.

Co-authored 

Van Gorp, A., et al. (2022). “What does this have to do with everything else?” An ecological reading of the impact of the 1918–19 influenza pandemic on education. Paedagogica Historica, 28(5), 728-747.

Van Gorp, A. & Herman, F. (2022). On the trail of the toucan: A travelogue about a peregrination in educational history. In F. Herman, S. Braster & M. del Mar del Pozo Andrés (Eds.). Exhibiting the past: Public histories of education (357-379). Berlin: De Gruyter.

De Vuyst, J., Myers, K. & Van Gorp, A. (2021). The paradox of the alien citizen: Access, control and entitlements of Belgian refugees in Birmingham during the First World War. Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(1), 1083-1100.

Grosvenor, I. & Van Gorp, A. (2018). At school with the avant-garde: European architects and the modernist project in England. History of Education, 47(4), 544-563.

Degerickx, H., Roets, G., Rutten, K. & Van Gorp, A. (2017). “What kind of silence is being broken?”: A Visual-Rhetorical History of the Out-of-Home Placement of Children in Poverty in 1990s Belgium”. Paedagogica Historica, 53(6), 707-729.

Goossens, C. & Van Gorp, A. (2016). The myth of the Phoenix: Progressive education, migration and the shaping of the welfare-state, 1985-2015. Paedagogica Historica, 52(5), 467-484.

Herman, F., Van Gorp, A., Simon, F., & Depaepe, M. (2011). The school desk: From concept to object.” History of Education, 40(1), 97-117.

Van Gorp, A., Simon, F., & Depaepe, M. (2010). A rede cultural da Escola de Decroly em Bruxelas: A teoria da organização e a função de guardião da história. Cadernos de História da Educação, 9, 329-345.