Literacy and a successful life: Video interview with Prof. Dr Juliane Noack Napoles and Robin Jost

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is actively involved in researching and promoting literacy processes. At the centre of these efforts is the Graduate College "Enabling a successful life through basic education and literacy" (GrAl), which is headed by Prof. Dr Juliane Noack Napoles in the BTU's Chair of Education Sciences.

To mark this year's World Education Day (24 January 2025), Prof. Dr Juliane Noack Napoles, Head of the Chair of Education Sciences, and Robin Jost met to discuss what the ability to read and write has to do with a successful life.

The Graduate College, which is funded by the EU and the state of Brandenburg, is dedicated to researching the phenomenon of literacy, the realities of life for people with low literacy skills and the development of practical counselling services. The aim is both to understand the individual needs of those affected and to break down social barriers. Our starting point is not that every adult must (re)learn to read and write," emphasises Prof. Noack Napoles. "Instead, we ask what significance written language has in people's lives, how they themselves determine a successful life and to what extent the two are connected for them."

The research training group comprises an interdisciplinary team of early career researchers, including experts from the fields of Social Work, primary school education, anthropology and linguistics. Together, they investigate the many different aspects of literacy and literacy development and develop approaches to support those affected in shaping their lives.

Particular emphasis is placed on cooperation with basic education centres in Brandenburg and companies in order to provide sensitive support to employees with low literacy skills, for example, without stigmatising them. "People with low literacy levels are often very hard-working and develop mechanisms to hide their deficits. This commitment often leads to professional promotions, which in turn entail greater written language requirements," continues the head of the Education Sciences chair.

In Germany, around 6.2 million people of working age have low literacy levels. This means that they are at alpha levels 1 to 3:

  • Alpha level 1: Recognising individual letters without reading words (letter level).
  • Alpha level 2: Reading individual words without understanding whole sentences (word level).
  • Alpha level 3: Reading and understanding sentences, but with difficulties in more complex texts (simple sentence level).
  • Alpha level 4: Slow and incorrect reading and writing.

In addition, there are a further 10.6 million people who are categorised as Alpha Level 4.

A central aspect of the project is taking into account the individual living environments of those affected. "We have to meet people with their individual wishes. Many want to learn to read and write in order to realise personal dreams, be it writing a book or understanding small print," says Prof. Noack Napoles.

The project also has a direct impact on teaching at BTU, in particular in the Social Work and Primary School Teaching study programmes. The doctoral students contribute their findings to teaching and sensitise prospective social workers and teachers to how to deal with people with low literacy skills. Topics such as the design of inclusive teaching materials and the importance of literacy in various subjects, from Mathematics to music, take centre stage.

The BTU cooperates closely with basic education centres in Germany and has a network of international partners. This enables the exchange of proven approaches and innovative methods for literacy education.

The Graduate College sets new standards in literacy research and contributes to reducing social stigmatisation and facilitating access to education for all. By combining academic research and practical approaches, BTU is making a valuable contribution to adult education and the social participation of people with low literacy levels.

World Education Day
World Education Day is celebrated every year on 24 January and was established by UNESCO to highlight the central importance of education for individual and social development. Education is not only a fundamental right, but also the key to equal opportunities, social progress and sustainable development. The day of action provides a platform to address global challenges in the field of education, including access to education, the promotion of literacy and gender equality. On this day, initiatives and projects are presented worldwide that help to fund education for all people regardless of their origin, age or social background.

Contact us

Prof. Dr. Juliane Noack Napoles
Erziehungswissenschaften für die Soziale Arbeit
T +49 (0) 355 5818-414
noacknap(at)b-tu.de

Press contact

Robin Jost
Kommunikation und Marketing
T +49 (0) 355 69-3124
robin.jost(at)b-tu.de
Prof. Dr Juliane Noack Napoles and Robin Jost meet for a video interview and discuss the topic of literacy and a successful life (Photo: Sascha Thor, BTU)