Petuewoh, Suzannah
PhD thesis topic:
"Culture and Knowledge Acquisition – Cultural Backgrounds and Learning Preferences."
Contact details at the University of Würzburg:
Chair of Religious Education
and Didactics of Religious Education
Bibrastraße 14
97070 Würzburg
Email Ms Petuewoh
Primary supervisor: PD Dr Boris Kalbheim
Second supervisor:
Class in the Graduate School: “Antiquity, History and Religion”
PhD programme at the Graduate School from the winter semester 2026/27.
Abstract:
In an era of globalized higher education and increasing cultural diversity in classrooms, understanding how cultural backgrounds shape learning in general and learning preferences in particular and influence knowledge acquisition and distribution remain a critical yet underexplored area. Cultural backgrounds significantly influence how individuals acquire, evaluate, and internalize knowledge. This doctoral project aims to investigate the interplay between cultural backgrounds, learning preferences, and processes of knowledge acquisition in schools. It will strive to hopefully contribute a novel culturally adaptive learning framework for designing inclusive pedagogies and digital learning environments. Implications extend to curriculum internationalization, teacher professional development, and equity-oriented educational policy. The study will try to underscore the limitations of universal “one-size-fit-all” instructional models and advocate for culturally responsive practices to optimize knowledge acquisition in multicultural settings.
