UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

01/08/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/09/2025 14:43

Launch of new research project: 'Under Pressure: Literacy and Discrimination'

This initiative brings together a research team from the University of Hamburg's Research Centre on Literacy in Diversity Settings and UIL to investigate the specific mechanisms underlying literacy-related discrimination.

Literacy and written language influence all facets of lifelong learning, including schools, universities and adult education. However, diversity in written language - often linked to multilingualism, limited formal education, advanced age, social class or disabilities - continues to constrain opportunities for participation in education, employment and broader societal engagement.

The project aims to uncover literacy-specific discrimination and disadvantages by analyzing datasets from the 2023 Programme for the International Assessment of Adults (PIAAC) and conducting qualitative research. It will explore how literacy intersects with ableism, classism, linguicism and ageism, highlighting systemic barriers and inequities at different levels of education and learning, from elementary schooling to university students, adults and older learners.


As part of the project, a proposal for a special issue of UIL's International Review of Education (IRE) on literacy and discrimination in times of rising populism will be developed. Together with the University of Hamburg, UIL will host a conference on the research theme in 2025 and organize a workshop series on specific research topics.

The project's commitment to engaging new and emerging scholars will be reflected through a series of workshops on academic publishing, with a focus on IRE.

Looking ahead, a follow-up project will establish a dedicated research group to focus on developing protective structures within education systems to combat literacy-related discrimination.

The research project is funded by the Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research, Equality, and Districts (BWFGB).

Launching the research initiative together with all project partners on 7 January 2025

Project partners of the research project "Under pressure: Literacy and discrimination"
UIL

Contact

Paul Stanistreet, Head of Knowledge Management and Communication / Editor of the International Review of Education, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning: [email protected]

Professor Tanja Sturm, Faculty of Education, University of Hamburg: [email protected]