lars balzer

Professional Experience
since 2005:
Senior researcher, responsible for evaluation
at the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET)
(former Swiss Pedagogical Institute for Vocational Education until 2006)
in Zollikofen / Switzerland
since 2001:
Co-editor of the German language refereed journal "Empirische Pädagogik"
2005:
Guest lecturer
at the University of Education in Heidelberg / Germany
2005:
Dr. phil. (equivalent to Ph.D.) in psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau in Landau / Germany
Thesis: "Wie werden Evaluationsprojekte erfolgreich? - Ein integrierender theoretischer Ansatz und eine empirische Studie zum Evaluationsprozess" [What does a successful evaluation project need? - An integrating theoretical model and an empiricial study regarding the evaluation process]

Awarded as universities´ best dissertation in 2005
2000 - 2005:
Research and lecturing
at the Centre for Educational Research,
University of Koblenz-Landau in Landau / Germany
2001:
Visiting scholar
at the Swiss Pedagogical Institute for Vocational Education in Zollikofen / Switzerland
1995 - 2001:
Free-lance computer instructor in various fields
1999 - 2000:
Researcher
at the Centre for Educational Research,
University of Koblenz-Landau in Landau / Germany
1992 - 1998:
Psychology studies at the University of Koblenz-Landau in Landau / Germany
Diploma (equivalent to Master in psychology) in 1998; Thesis: "Der Erfolg von EDV-Seminaren: Eine Evaluation von Computerkursen einer Volkshochschule" [The Success of Computer Training: An Evaluation Study of Computer Training in Adult Education]
1994 - 1998:
Honorary president of the Youth Organization of the Baden regional German Chess-Federation
1992:
General qualification for university entrance (Abitur) at Kant-Gymnasium Karlsruhe / Germany
 

Fields of Scientific Work
My current scientific interests include:
  • Evaluation Theory, Evaluation Practice and Evaluation Research
  • Measuring Competencies
  • Social Science Methods
  • Aspects of Vocational Education Training
  • Aspects of Educational Psychology
  • Psychological Aspects in Chess

These topics are treated in my project work, publications, conference presentations and also in the university and college courses I teach.
 

Professional Affiliations
Member of the Swiss Evaluation Society (seval)
Member of the German Evaluation Society (DeGEval)
Member of the European Evaluation Society (EES)
Member of the American Evaluation Association (AEA)
Member of the Swiss Society for Research in Education (SSRE)
 

Scientific Journal Adhoc Reviewer