He holds a doctoral degree in Adult Education from University of Münster and started his career as a Research Specialist at the UNESCO-Institute for Lifelong Learning, Hamburg. He is currently Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Bielefeld. His main research is focused on International and Comparative Adult education, Co-operation and Network Research and on University Continuing Education. He is member of the Steering Committee of the European Society for the Research of Adults (ESREA), Co-Convenor of a new thematic ESREA Network on “Adult Educators, Trainers and their Professional Development”, Co-Editor of the book series “Studies in Lifelong Learning” (Vienna et al 2008ff),  Co-Editor of the European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults (RELA) and a Member of the Academic Board of  Deutschen Universität für Weiterbildung (DUW) .

He has been Dean of Studies of  Faculty for Education since June 2009, Chair of the Centre for University Continuing Education of the University Bielefeld (ZWW) and member of the  Bielefeld Centre for Education and Capability Research.