Academic Background

• Since October 2024 – Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education, University of Kassel

• May 2024 – Dissertation Defense: Fostering the Capacity for Empathy and Perspective-Taking in Interreligious Encounters Among Elementary School Children – A Qualitative-Empirical Study of the University Education Program “Children’s Academy – World Religions in Dialogue”

  • Doctoral Award from the Görres Society and the Alfred Petzelt Foundation

• 2020–2024 – Ph.D. candidate, Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education, University of Kassel

• Since 2020 – Research Assistant, Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education, University of Kassel

• 2018–2020 – Lecturer for Special Assignments, Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education, University of Kassel

• 2018 – Student Assistant, Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education, University of Kassel

• 2016–2017 – Student Assistant, Institute for Educational Sciences (Elementary School Education), University of Kassel

• 2014–2018 – Studied to become an elementary school teacher (German, Mathematics, Protestant Theology), University of Kassel

• 2014–2015 – Substitute Teacher, Lindenberg Elementary School, Kassel

• 2013–2014 – Voluntary Social Year, Lindenberg Elementary School, Kassel

Academic Self-Governance

• Since 2022 – Contact person for the “Interreligious Competencies” study track

• 2019–2024 – Representative for mid-level faculty in the advocacy group for mid-level academic staff at Protestant theology faculties and institutes in Germany

Professional Development

• Since February 2022 – Training as a communication trainer/consultant (Central German Institute for Continuing Education)

Stays Abroad

• April–May 2024 – Work shadowing, University of Vienna (Catholic and Islamic Religious Education)

• February–March 2022 – Job shadowing, University of Salzburg (Practical & Systematic Theology, Religious Studies)

• March 2020 – English and International Communication Skills, Executive Training Institute, Malta

• August–September 2019 – Observation placement, Oaklands Primary School, London

• Digitalization and Inclusion (“Diklusion”) in Elementary School Religious Education 

• Inclusive Pedagogy 

• Empirical Research in Religious Education (qualitative, multi-method—particularly reconstructive approaches such as Objective Hermeneutics in combination with qualitative content analysis) 

• Development of Interreligious and Intercultural Competencies  

• Interreligious learning in educational contexts, especially in schools  

• Empathy and shifting perspectives in religion-related teaching and learning contexts in elementary school 

Academic Publications

Monographs  

• Gaida, K. (2025). Empathy and Perspective-Taking in Interreligious Encounters. A Qualitative-Empirical Study of the University Education Program “Children’s Academy—World Religions in Dialogue.” Paderborn: Brill | Schöningh Verlag.

  • A review of the dissertation by PD Dr. Christian Ratzke (2025) in: Austrian Forum for Religious Education, 33(2), pp. 255–258.

Edited Volumes 

• Katharina Gaida / Jasmin Sindelar / Anke Trömper (Eds.) (2026). Worldviews – Interreligious Encounter-Based Learning. A Pilot Project to Promote Competence in Religious Pluralism in Ethics and Religion at the Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg School in Kassel.

• Annett Abdel-Rahman / Christian Espelage / Katharina Gaida (Eds.): Future Competencies in Religious Education. Perspectives from Religious Education on a Changing Teaching and Learning Culture. [Expected publication: late 2026]. 

Articles in Journals and Anthologies (Selected) 

• Gaida, Katharina (2026). Emotion and Cognition in Teaching and Learning Processes in Light of Religious Plurality in Elementary School Religious Education. In: Julia Drube and Katharina Kammeyer (eds.): Attitudes in Religious Education Processes. Theological Perspectives on Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Appreciation. Stuttgart, 114–128.

• Gaida, Katharina (2026). Islamophobia and Hostility Toward Muslims in: Annegret Reese-Schnitker, Helena Fernys-Adamietz, and Tina Krasenbrink (eds.). Religious Education in Step with the Times. Kohlhammer Verlag[expected publication in spring 2026]. 

• Gaida, Katharina, Agnes Gmoser & Mevlida Mešanović (2025). “‘I want to raise my child in an interreligious manner.’ —An Exploration of the Concept of ‘Interreligious’ or ‘Religiously Open’ Education in a Religiously Pluralistic Society.” LIMINA – Graz Theological Perspectives. (Austrian academic journal, double-blind peer-reviewed)

• Gaida, Katharina (2025). Fostering Empathy and Perspective-Taking in Interreligious Encounters. Empirical Methods and Findings on the University Education Program “Children’s Academy—World Religions in Dialogue,” in: Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Hanna Roose, Thomas Schlag & Oliver Reis (eds.). Yearbook of Children’s and Youth Theology.

• Shifting Perspectives—Empathy—Language Sensitivity. Empathetic and Language-Sensitive Speech as a Core Competency in Interreligious Teaching and Learning, in: Massud, Abdel-Hafiez / Hild, Christian (eds.), Religion Teachers as Actors in a Multireligious Context, (RKBG), 2022, Vol. 2, No. 2, (pp. 77–99) (co-authored with Christian Espelage, Katharina Gaida, Rebecca Niehoff, and Annegret Reese-Schnitker)

• The “Children’s Academy—World Religions in Dialogue” at the University of Kassel, in: Espelage, Christian, Mohagheghi, Hamideh & Schober, Michael (eds.), Interreligious Openness Through Encounter. Foundations—Experiences—Perspectives in the Context of Christian-Islamic Dialogue, 2021, pp. 329–337 

Practical Contributions & Teaching Materials

Journals 

• Elementary School Religion. A Warm Welcome. On Hospitality in the Religions, in: Schmitt, C. (ed.), Living Diversity, 2024, Issue 3, pp. 13–15.

• Religion 5–10. What to Keep in Mind When Dealing with the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran?—Do’s and Don’ts in Dealing with the Holy Scriptures, in: Kaloudis, A. / Neebe, G. (eds.), Holy Scriptures, 2023, Issue No. 51, pp. 20–23. 

Textbooks and Teaching Materials 

*Spuren lesen* 1/2 and 3/4, each including a textbook, workbook, picture cards, and teacher’s guides. Sample bibliographic references: 

• Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2024): *Spuren lesen 3/4* Teacher’s Guide—2023 Edition for Elementary School. Compiled by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze, and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann. 

• Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (Ed.) (2023): Reading Traces 1/2 Student Workbook – 2023 Edition for Elementary School. Compiled by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze, and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann. 

Lectures (selection) 

• Exploring the Bible and the Quran Comparatively in Religious Education. Opportunities, Challenges, and Criticisms of the “Zeugnislernen” Didactic Approach: Teacher Training at the PILGRIM Schools. Institute for Religious Education and Diversity, Private University of Education Burgenland, in cooperation with KPH Vienna, February 23, 2026. (online via Zoom)  
•  Promoting Empathy and a Change of Perspective in Interreligious Encounters. Event: 3 Phases of Teacher Education—Religions, RPI Kassel, June 24, 2025, Kassel.  
• From “I” to “You”: The Dignity of the Child as a Religious Education Approach to Respect in Interreligious Learning in Elementary School Religious Education. Event: Teacher Training at the PILGRIM Schools. Institute for Religious Education and Diversity, Private University of Education Burgenland (Austria). November 4, 2024, online. 
• Perspectives on Interreligious Learning. Event: Ecumenical Meeting Place for All Types of Schools. RPI Kassel, August 20, 2024, Kassel. 
• Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution Strategies in Classrooms. Event: Teacher Training at the Heidelberg University of Education, June 11, 2024, Heidelberg. 
• “Religions and Religiosity” as a Topic in Ethics. Event: Study Day “Interreligious Learning in Elementary School Ethics.” Professional development for obtaining a teaching license for elementary schools and the qualification to teach ethics in elementary schools. Hessian Teachers’ Academy, June 10, 2024, Weilburg. 
• How Can Interreligious Learning Succeed in the Ethics Curriculum?—Fundamentals, Opportunities, and Challenges. Event: Study Day “Interreligious Learning in the Ethics Curriculum in Elementary Schools.” Professional development for obtaining a teaching certification for elementary schools and a teaching qualification in ethics for elementary schools. Hessian Teachers’ Academy, December 1, 2023, Frankfurt am Main. 
• Interreligious Learning in Religious Education—Between One’s Own and the Other, Between the Known and the Unknown. Event: Ecumenical Day of Religious Education. RPI Marburg and the Diocese of Fulda, March 21, 2023, Marburg. 

Workshops (selection)  

• Opportunities, Challenges, and Criticism of the “Zeugnislernen” Didactic Approach. Event: 3 Phases of Teacher Education – Engaging in Interreligious Dialogue on the Bible, RPI Frankfurt am Main, June 17, 2025, Frankfurt am Main   
• Religiously-Related Challenging Situations in Schools—Working with Case Studies. Event: 11th Kassel Trialogue Day, University of Kassel/Kassel Synagogue, February 27, 2025, Kassel.   
• Interreligious Education as a Central Component of the Teacher Education Program at the University of Kassel. Insights into the “Children’s Academy: World Religions in Dialogue” and the “Interreligious Competence” study track. Conference: Children’s and Youth Theology—Interreligious. University of Bochum, March 11, 2024, Bochum. (in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Prof. Dr. Annegret Reese-Schnitker, Julia Drube, Protestant & Catholic Theology, University of Kassel) 
• Religious Festivals—Fundamentals, Teaching Materials, Potential, and Challenges. Event: Teacher training as part of religious education support and counseling in schools. RPI Kassel, February 14, 2024, Kassel. (in collaboration with Anke Trömper, RPI Kassel) 
• “You somehow look better with hair”—Content and Potential of Interreligious Competencies in Discussions About the Headscarf. Event: 7th Religious Education and Theology Study Day: Speaking About God* in Religious Education?! The Potential of Classroom Discussions. Institute for Catholic Theology, University of Kassel, June 15, 2023, Kassel. (in collaboration with Helena Fernys-Adamietz, Institute for Catholic Theology, University of Kassel) 
• Appreciation in Interfaith Encounters. Event: Study Day “Appreciation—Not Just a Topic in Religious Education.” Protestant School Board of Paderborn and the Department of Religious Education, March 23, 2023, Warburg. (in collaboration with Elena Padva, Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life) 
• Strengthening Interreligious Competencies—Learning to (Re)understand Ourselves Through the Other. Event: Study Day on Interreligious Learning. Association of Committed Muslims in Germany (EMD e.V.), November 19, 2022, Bochum. 
• Respectful Interfaith Coexistence in Elementary School. Event: Religious Education Teachers’ Day “What Makes Us Strong” – Appreciation and Encouragement in Religious Education. Mariano-Josephinum High School, September 22, 2022, Diocese of Hildesheim. (in collaboration with Rokaya Hassan) 
• “Do All People Go to Heaven?” Dying, Death, and Resurrection in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Fundamentals and Methods (Grades 4–6). Event: 3 Phases of Teacher Training – Dying, Death, and the Christian Hope of Resurrection, RPI Kassel, July 1, 2022, Kassel. 
• We Are Diverse—We Are Many! Questions and Answers About Religions and Cultures. Event: Professional development session as part of the “Only Human!” series, in cooperation with the Evangelical Youth of Kassel and the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life. November 4, 2021, Kassel. 
• Diversity Thrives in the Classroom!—Fundamentals and Methods of Interreligious Learning in Elementary School. Event: Religious Education in the Spirit of Inclusion. University of Kassel (via Zoom), June 26, 2021, Kassel. 

• Winter Semester 25/26: Doing Diclusion! Integrating Digital Media and Inclusion in Religious Education  

• Winter Semester 23/24 – Winter Semester 25/26: Introduction to Religious Education  

• Summer Semester 25: Interreligious Learning (Advanced) 

• Winter Semester 24/25: Didactic and Methodological Approaches in Religious Education 

• Summer Semester 22 & Summer Semester 24: Interreligious Learning: Perspectives – Encounters – Competencies (in cooperation with the Institute for Catholic Theology) 

• Winter Semester 20/21 – Summer Semester 23: Interreligious Learning (Fundamentals) (in cooperation with the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life)  

• Winter Semester 18/19 – Winter Semester 19/20: Children’s Academy – World Religions in Dialogue (practice-oriented project seminar) 

• Summer Semester 18 – Winter Semester 19/20: MOSAIK – Interreligious Dialogue (in cooperation with the Muslim University Community, University of Kassel) 

Projects Launched 

• Kassel Research Workshop “Diklusion” (2025)

• “Only Human!” Continuing Education Series in cooperation with the Evangelical Youth of Kassel (2021)

• MELTINGPOT (?) Educational Program – Interfaith Learning Through Encounter (a collaboration with the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life) (2021)

• “Suitcases of World Religions” lending system for religious objects for students and faculty (2020)

• Children’s Academy – World Religions in Dialogue (2018) 

Academic support for schools on “Religions and Democracy Education” 

• Since April 2023: Religious education support and consultation at three secondary schools (Sek I) in Kassel on concepts of dialogic learning in pluralistic contexts in religious education (in collaboration with the RPI Kassel and the Diocese of Fulda)

• November 2023 – May 2025: Contact person for the teacher training program “Interreligious Encounter-Based Learning—A Didactics of Worldviews” in 2023/2024 in Essen (in collaboration with, among others, Prof. Dr. Katja Boehme, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Manuel Lorenz, and Dr. Darjusch Bartsch) 

Memberships 

• Since 2024: Member of the German Society for Educational Sciences (DGfE), Section 4 “Empirical Educational Research” and Section 5 “School Pedagogy”  

• Since 2024: Member of the association “Mentor – die Leselernhelfer Nordhessen e.V.”  

• Since 2024: Member of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) 

• Since 2021: Member of the European Society of Women in Theological Research (ESWTR) 

• Since 2021: Member of the Society for Scientific Religious Education e.V. 

• Since 2020: Co-organizer of the Kassel Trialogue Day 

External Funding  

• June 2024: Project proposal for the Initiative for the Prevention of Antisemitism at the University of Kassel (in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Annegret Reese-Schnitker)  

• 2019–2023, annually: QSL funding: FB02, Humanities and Cultural Studies 

• 2019/2020: QPL funding: Coordination Office for Service Learning and Social Engagement at the University of Kassel 

• 03/2019: QSL funding: Family Welcome and Dual Career Service 

Awards 

• Doctoral Award from the Görres Society and the Alfred Petzelt Foundation 

• 01/2019: Competition of the “Structural Equal Opportunity” Special Fund with the project “Children’s Academy—World Religions in Dialogue” 

Dear Students, 

If you are planning to write an academic paper (L1, L2, L3, L5) or take an oral exam (L1) with me, please use the designated Moodle course for registration and organization. For a thesis (BA/MA), please contact me via email well in advance. 

I am generally able to serve as your advisor if you have taken at least one of my courses following the introductory module. 

Thank you for your interest—I look forward to your topic proposals! 

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