Karen Schwien, M.Sc.

Research focus

• Workplace Learning
• Experiential Knowledge and Expertise
• Employee Innovation
• Artificial Intelligence
• Digitalised Knowledge Work
• Vocational Training in the Digital Transformation
• Crowdwork and Platform Work
• Practice Theory
• Qualitative and quantitative methods

Projects

Crowdwork and crowdworkers: Competence, subjectification, expertise and platform design that promotes learning – Transferring the findings to digitalised knowledge work (CKoBeLeP II) => Project page

Crowdwork and crowdworkers before, during and after vocational training – competence and subjectification, expertise and platform design that promotes learning (CKoBeLeP) => Project page

Curriculum Vitae

Since 2025: Researcher at the Chair of Vocational and Business Education and within the CKoBeLeP II project on learning and knowledge in digitisalised knowledge work in relation to AI usage at Helmut-Schmidt-University, Hamburg

09/10 2025: Visiting fellow at the University of Oslo’s Department of Education

2021 – 2024: Researcher at the Chair of Vocational and Business Education and on the CKoBeLeP project on learning and knowing in digitalised platform work at Helmut-Schmidt-University, Hamburg

2019 – 2021: Change management consultant at avoday AG, Hamburg

2016 – 2019: Business Psychology, M. Sc., at the University of Bremen and the University of Helsinki

2012 – 2016: Business Administration, B. Sc., at the University of Münster and Marmara University Istanbul

Publications

Liehr, J., Hauff, S., Schlömer, T., & Schwien, K. (2026). Employees as co-creators of the digital transformation – a Delphi study on the role of HRM and leadership for innovative work behavior. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2026.2734734

Schwien, K. (2026). Uncertainty and digital workplace learning in crowdwork. In K. Büchter, T. Schlömer, F. Kleemann, M. Krzywdzinski, M. Eckelt, & J. Li-Gottwald (Eds.), Crowdwork as a profession?: Subjectification, skill acquisition, and learning in digital platform work. Opladen: Barbara Budrich Publishers. https://doi.org/10.3224/84743131

Schlömer, T., Kiepe, K., Neu, T., Rüdebusch, G., & Schwien, K. (2024). Knowing and doing in Vocational Education for Sustainable Development. In H. Kminek, V. Holz, M. Singer-Brodowski, H. Ertl, T.-S. Idel, & C. Wulf (Eds.), Education for Sustainable Development. Edition ZfE (Vol. 17). Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-46596-4_2

Schwien, K., Neu, T., & Schlömer, T. (2024). Learning and knowing in the platform economy between economic rationality and personal autonomy. In G. Tafner, N. Ackermann, U. Hagedorn, & C. Wagner-Herrbach (Eds.), Humane economy – a matter-of-fact mission of socio-economic education and science, or a socially romantic utopia? (pp. 198–216). Barbara Budrich.

Becker, A., Ecker, L., Külpmann, I., Schwien, K. & Stobbe, P. (2023). Cooperative solidarity among crowdworkers? Social learning practices on a crowdtesting social media platform. Convergence, 30(1), 428-449. https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231183298

Conference Presentations

Schwien, K. & Schlömer, T. (2026). Tackling the complexity of professional development: Interviews and voice messaging on genAI. EARLI SIG 14 Conference 2026, September 16–18, 2026, Antwerp, Belgium.

Schwien, K. & Liehr, J. (2026). Learning to be innovative: Employees’ learning and innovation in the workplace. EARLI SIG 14 Conference 2026, September 16–18, 2026, Antwerp, Belgium.

Liehr, J. & Schwien, K. (2026). Self-Regulated and Workplace Learning as Catalysts for IWB: The Role of Organizational Context. 86th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, July 31 – August 4, 2026, Philadelphia, USA.

Schwien, K. (2025). Knowing and Learning in Digital Work Practices on Crowdwork Platforms: The role of human knowing in a tech-related world. WORK2025 in Turku, Finland.

Schwien, K., Schlömer, T., Liehr, J. & Hauff, S. (2025). Between self-exploitation and self-organisation: The future of digital learning in organisations. EARLI 2025 in Graz, Austria.

Liehr, J., Hauff, S., Schlömer, T. & Schwien, K. (2025). The future role of HRM and leadership in the context of digital transformation – A Delphi study. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM2025) in Kopenhagen, Dänemark.

Schwien, K. (2024). An ethnographic study of digital workplace learning in crowdwork practices. ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) 2024 in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Schwien, K. (2024). Tacit knowing in digital crowdwork: first results. Section Conference BWP (Vocational and Business Education) in Dresden, Germany.

Schwien, K., Neu, T. & Schlömer, T. (2023). Perceived uncertainty in platform and crowdworker practices. INDL (International Network on Digital Labour) 6 in Berlin, Germany.

Neu, T., Schwien, K. & Schlömer, T. (2023). Knowing and professional practices in the platform economy – implicit knowledge and mental models. Section Conference BWP (Vocational and Business Education) in Flensburg, Germany.

Schwien, K. & Schlömer, T. (2023). Uncertainty as a Driver for Workplace Learning in Crowdwork Practices. EARLI (European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction) 2023 in Thessaloniki.

Schwien, K. (2023). Knowing and Learning in Crowdwork Practices: Informal Education for Digital Work?. EARLI (European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction) 2023 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Schwien, K., Schlömer, T. & Neu, T. (2022). Learning and knowing in the platform economy. AGBFN Conference on “Humane economy – a matter-of-fact mission of socio-economic education and science, or a socially romantic utopia?” in Berlin, Germany.

Teaching

Bildung and Education (Bachelor):

• Theoretical Foundations of Vocational Education and Training
• Teaching and Learning in Vocational Education and Training
• Curriculum Development and Research, and Regulatory Policy in Vocational Education and Training
• Practice of Vocational Education and Training
• Current research topics in Vocational Teaching and Learning

Transfer

Projekt CKoBeLeP (2026). DiWiA Summit 26 – Work, Learning and Innovation in relation to Artificial Intelligence (Transfer workshop with researchers and practicioners). https://www.eventbrite.de/e/diwia-summit-26-arbeiten-lernen-und-innovieren-mit-ki-tickets-1988060986929

Schwien, K. & Eckelt, M. (2022). Expedition Work #141 – Research project“Crowdwork” live: Karen Schwien and Dr. Marcus Eckelt at the WeSession (29/09/2026) (Podcast) https://expeditionarbeit.libsyn.com/expedition-arbeit-141-forschungprojekt-crowdwork-live-karen-schwien-und-dr-marcus-eckelt-bei-der-wesession-am-290622-0

HSU

Letzte Änderung: 28. October 2026