Research on Higher Education

In my research, I examine the transformation of academic subjectivities. I focus on the process of the constitution of academic subjectivities and analyze it as a combination of numerous elements (discourses, practices, materialities, spaces, temporalities, affects). My core analytical instrument is the dispositive analysis.

Subjectivation studies

Subjectivation studies is one of my key research approaches. It refers on the one hand to the constitution of subjects through (self-)education processes, on the other hand to the reflection of my own self-governing as an academic subject in research and teaching. Currently, I examine the constitution of hybrid academic subjects under the latest global transformations in higher education.

Life Course Research

The Life Course Research covers a wide range of institutionalized life and educational expectations. In my research I study the (subjective) agency of young adults, especially those in vulnerable positions. I have actively researched these issues in two Horizon Europe projects YOUNG_ADULLLT and CLEAR.

• Professorship für international and comparative educational sciences (Prof. Parreira do Amaral)

Academic Education

09.2013 – 01.2020

Doctoral Studies of Political Science at the University of Muenster

09.2010 – 06.2012

Master Studies of World Politics at the State University of Saint-Petersburg

09.2007 – 06.2010

Bachelor Studies of the International Economic Relations at the University of Economics in Bratislava

Positions

since 07.2021

Research assistant

08.2020 – 06.2021

Gymnasium teacher

03. – 12.2020

Foreign language teacher

04.2018 – 04.2019

Research assistant

04.2017 – 09.2018

Lecturer

10.2014 – 03.2018

Lecturer

Honors

2021

Funding of the publication expenses of the dissertation thesis. in the category Dissertation – VG Wort Förderungsfonds Wissenschaft

2014

DAAD Forschungsstipendium für Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)

External Functions

since 03.2022

Working Group Subjectivation, The German Sociological Association (GSA)

since 03.2022

Subdivision International Comparative Education, The German Educational Research Association (GERA)

11.2021 – 10.2025

WWU Centre for Europe (Member)

since 04.2019

RYOT NETWORK - Research on Youth Opportunities and Transitions

• Lecture: Lecture: Global Education Policy: An introduction to debates and research [065605]
  • [20^th Apr – 20^th Jul 2026 | Mon, 4.00 p. m. – 6.00 p. m. | weekly | GC 202]
• Practice: Entwurf, Erprobung und Reflexion komparativer Forschungsansätze [065466]
  (in cooperation with Marcelo Parreira do Amaral)
  • [20^th Apr – 20^th Jul 2026 | Mon, 2.00 p. m. – 4.00 p. m. | weekly | GC 307]

• FOR 5393 - Subproject: Educational Infrastructures in Mid-sized Cities (2023 – 2026)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted at the University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: PA 1771/3-1
• FOR 5393: The future smart town (2023 – 2026)
  Main DFG-Project Hosted at the University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe
• Constructing learning outcomes in Europe - A multi-level analysis of (under-)achievement in the life course – CLEAR (2022 – 2025)
  EU-Project Hosted at University the of Münster: EU Horizon Europe - Research and innovation action | Project Number: 101061155
• Policies Supporting Young People in their Life Course. A Comparative Perspective of Lifelong Learning and Inclusion in Education and Work in Europe – YOUNG_ADULLLT (2016 – 2019)
  EU-Project Hosted at University the of Münster: EU H2020 - Research and innovation actions | Project Number: 693167

Book (Monograph)

• Zelinka, J., 2022. Regieren durch Vorbeugen. Eine kritische Analyse der Burnout-Prävention nach Michel Foucault. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag.

Articles

Articles in Scientific Journals, Newspapers or Magazines

Research Articles (Journals)

• Zelinka, J., Parreira do Amaral, M., Benasso, S. and König, J., 2023. Citizenship in Times of Crises – Crisis of Citizenship?: De Europa European and Global Studies Journal, 6(2), pp. 17–40. doi: 10.13135/2611-853X/7134.
• Parreira do Amaral, M. and Zelinka, J., 2019. Lifelong learning policies shaping the life courses of young adults. An interpretative analysis of orientations, objectives, and solutions.: Comparative Education, 55(3), pp. 404–421. doi: 10.1080/03050068.2019.1619333.

Review (Journal)

• Zelinka, J., 2018. Ingrid Gogolin, Viola B. Georgi, Marianne Krüger-Potratz, Drorit Lengyel & Uwe Sandfuchs (Hrsg.) (2018). Handbuch Interkulturelle Pädagogik. Grundlagenliteratur für Forschung und Praxis der Interkulturellen Pädagogik. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt.: Tertium Comparationis, 24(2), pp. 247–251. doi: 10.31244/tc.2018.02.08.

Research Article in Edited Proceeding (Conference)

• Zelinka, J. and Parreira do Amaral, M., 2025. Between Spatial and Social Justice - The case of lifelong learning policies. in: Scuola democratica eds. Proceedings of the Third International Conference of the journal Scuola Democratica. Education and/for Social Justice. Vol. 1: Inequality, Inclusion, and Governance. Rome: Associazione "Per Scuola Democratica". pp. 613–620.

Research Article (Book Contributions)

• Zelinka, J. and Parreira do Amaral, M., 2026. The Dynamics of Education and Space: Examining the spatial dichotomies of Lifelong Learning Policies. in: P. Kraftl, S. Holloway, Y. Cheng and S.R. Kučerová eds. Handbook on Geographies of Education . Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 290–304.
• Zelinka, J., Amorim, J.P., Parreira do Amaral, M., Jablonczay, N., Kovacheva, S., Kyttälä, M., Papadimitriou, A., Rambla, X., Siri, A. and Tikkanen, J., 2025. A Synthesis Review of Education Research on Learning Outcomes. in: J. Tikkanen, M. Parreira do Amaral, T. Järvinen and N. Alves eds. Constructing Learning Outcomes: Problematizing (Under)Achievement in Europe. London et al.: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 99–120. doi: 10.5040/9781350446717.
• Parreira do Amaral, M., Zelinka, J., Kovacheva, S. and Rambla, X., 2025. A Spatial Perspective on Promoting Inclusiveness through Learning Outcomes in Europe. in: J. Tikkanen, M. Parreira do Amaral, T. Järvinen and N. Alves eds. Constructing Learning Outcomes: Problematizing (Under)Achievement in Europe. London et al.: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 219–240. doi: 10.5040/9781350446717.
• Zelinka, Jozef, Jablonczay, N., Zarifis, G.K. and Järvinen, T., 2025. Countering educational poverty by raising learning outcomes of young people. in: J. Tikkanen, M. Parreira do Amaral, T. Järvinen and N. Alves eds. Constructing Learning Outcomes: Problematizing (Under)Achievement in Europe. London et al.: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 47–71.
• Neves, T., Nata, G., Zelinka, Jozef and Alves, N., 2025. Rethinking educational achievement, expanding learning outcomes. in: J. Tikkanen, M. Parreira do Amaral, T. Järvinen and N. Alves eds. Constructing Learning Outcomes: Problematizing (Under)Achievement in Europe. London et al.: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 181–196.
• Zelinka, J., 2023. Wissenschaftler*innen zwischen Exzellenz, Exklusion und Emanzipation: Konturen wissenschaftlicher Subjektivierung. in: H. Bloemen, C. Bomert, Dziuba-Kaiser, Stephanie and M. Gebhardt eds. Politik der GeschlechterverhältnisseMachtverhältnisse. Kritische Perspektiven auf Geschlecht und Gesellschaft. Frankfurt; New York: Campus Verlag. pp. 139–158.
• Zelinka, J., Ribeiro, A.B. and Pažur, M., 2022. Analysing subjectification in lifelong learning policymaking: A comparative analysis from Portugal, Germany, and Croatia. in: S. Benasso, D. Bouillet, T. Neves and M. Parreira do Amaral eds. Palgrave Studies in Adult Education and Lifelong LearningExploring Landscapes of Lifelong Learning Policies across Europe. Comparative case studies. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 143–163. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-96454-2_7.
• Zelinka, J., 2022. Subjects and subjectivities of the (new) geopolitics of knowledge. in: M. Parreira do Amaral and Ch. Thompson eds. Educational Governance Research, Volume 17: Geopolitical Transformations in Higher Education. Imagining, Fabricating and Contesting Innovation.. Cham: Springer VDI Verlag. pp. 251–269. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-94415-5_15.
• Parreira do Amaral, M. and Zelinka, J., 2021. Vulnerabilität als (neues) europäisches bildungspolitisches Deutungsmuster? Ein Beispiel aus dem Bereich des Lebenslangen Lernens. in: A. Koepfer, J. Powell and R. Zahnd eds. Handbuch Inklusion international / International Handbook of Inclusive Education Globale, nationale und lokale Perspektiven auf Inklusive Bildung. Verlag Barbara Budrich. p.580.

Working Paper, Reports, Expertises or Manuals

Working Paper

• Bücker, J., Zelinka, J., Parreira do Amaral, M., Becker, J., Distel, B., Feldhaus, C., Grundmann, M., Hoffmann, J., Hosseini, H., Hupperich, T., Kersting, N., Koddebusch, M., Koelmann, H., Löschel, A., Maeser, J., Nowak, D., Nguyen, B.A., Rusche, M. and Scholta, H., 2023.. Die digitale Mittelstadt der Zukunft verstehen: Ein transdisziplinärer Forschungsrahmen. : 01 Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag. doi: 10.17879/86988482729.

Project Reports

• Parreira do Amaral, M., Löffler, J.L. and Zelinka, J., 2025.. Comparative Analysis Report. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
• Parreira do Amaral, M., Löffler, J.L. and Zelinka, J., 2025.. Final Report to Research, Policy, and Practice. Münster: Universität Münster.
• Zelinka, J., Parreira do Amaral, M., Neves, T., Ferraz, H., Benasso, S., Filippi, D. and Pandolfini, V., 2023.. Report with Sites Selection. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
• Zelinka, J., Parreira do Amaral, M., König, J., Neves, T., Ferraz, H., Benasso, S., Filippo, D. and Pandolfini, V., 2023.. State-of-the-Art Report. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
• Parreira do Amaral, M., Zelinka, J., Neves, T. and Benasso, S., 2022.. Research Strategy Paper and Glossary. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
• Parreira do Amaral, M., Zelinka, J., Schweisfurth, M., Kotthoff, H.-G., Carillo Gafaro, J.F. and Neves, T., 2019.. Work Package 8 Comparative Analysis and Reporting: Final Report to Research, Policy, and Practice. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
• Parreira do Amaral, M., Zelinka, J. and Schweisfurth, M., 2018.. Work Package 8 Comparative Analysis and Reporting: Comparative Analysis Report. Münster: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.

Other Scientific Publication

• Parreira do Amaral, M., Zelinka, J. and Löffler, J.L., 2025. From Assessment to the Construction of Learning Outcomes: Key Policy Lessons (Policy Brief).

• Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo; Zelinka, Jozef 2026: „Bildungsinfrastrukturen in der Mittelstadt erfassen und verstehen“. 30. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft, München, Mar 25, 2026.
• Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo; Zelinka, Jozef; Becker, Marten 2026: „Forschungsforum: Digitaler (Durch)Bruch? Bildungswandel in deutschen Mittelstädten“. DGfE-Kongress 2026, München, Mar 25, 2026.
• Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo; Zelinka, Jozef; Becker, Marten Frederik 2026: „Postersession: Zwischen Potential und Versäulung: Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf mittelstädtische Bildungsinfrastrukturen “. DGfE-Kongress 2026, München, Mar 23, 2026.
• Zelinka, Jozef 2025: “Analyzing the Transformation of Academic Subjectivation in Higher Education: The Case of Aalto University”. 16. Netzwerktreffen Empirische Subjektivierungsforschung, Goethe Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Nov 6, 2025.
• Zelinka, Jozef 2025: „Das (ausgebrannte) Subjekt im Präventionsdispositiv – Materialität und Macht des psychischen Leidens“. Materialität – Psychoanalyse – Subjekt, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Feb 13, 2025.
• Zelinka, Jozef; Scandone, Berenice; Tikkanen, Jenni 2024: “Situating and Dynamizing Life Courses – The Analysis of Young People’s Subjectivation Processes in Finland, Germany, and Italy”. European Conference on Educational Resarch, The University of Cyprus, Aug 30, 2024.
• Zelinka, Jozef; Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo 2024: “Between Spatial and Social Justice – The Case of Lifelong Learning Policymaking”. Third International Conference of the Journal “Scuola Democratica”, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Jun 4, 2024.
• Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo; Zelinka, Jozef 2024: “Crises, Knowledge production, and non-scalable Epistemologies: (De-) Legitimizing (Education) Research”. On the (De)Legitimization of Epistemic Authority , Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Apr 11, 2024.
• Zelinka, Jozef 2022: „Fähigkeiten, Erwartungen, Subjekte: Technologien der Macht im Diskurs um Schlüsselkompetenzen des 21. Jahrhunderts“. 15. Bundeskongress der Zentren für Lehrer:innenbildung und Professional Schools of Education, Heidelberg, Sep 15, 2022.
• Zelinka Jozef 2021: “The (new) Geopolitics of Knowledge: Understanding the technologies of subjectification in the global discourse on innovation and excellence in education”. Diversity, Equity and Education Collective (DeCol), Department of Education, Brunel University London (online), Jun 3, 2021.
• Zelinka, Jozef 2016: „The governmentality of dictatorship“. Heil der Diktaturen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland, Nov 11, 2016.