Biography 

Gaële Goastellec joined the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) as a professor of the Sociology of Education in 2023. She previously served as an associate professor (2011–2023) at the same institution. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology (2002, University of Bordeaux II) on issues of equality and merit in higher education, and she also obtained an Advanced PhD (a degree necessary in order to supervise a PhD research) (2020, Sciences Po Paris) on access to university in Europe since the Middle Ages.

Her research focuses on the relationship between educational systems and society, employing a comparative, historical, and multidisciplinary approach. In particular, she studies inequalities in access to higher education, university policies, and academic careers, combining the sociology of inequality with organizational analysis. She served as president of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER, 2017–2021) and has been vice-president of the AISLF’s “International Comparisons” research committee since 2015.

Collaboration with the Laboratory of Education

Gaële Goastellec’s project is directly aligned with the research topics addressed within the Laboratory of Education, specifically regarding educational and academic trajectories, as explored in particular by Estelle Herbaut. The expertise of this colleague, with whom several UAR researchers have already been collaborating for a long time, will be a real asset, both for academic activities and for the students in the Department of Social Sciences. In particular, it will enrich discussions on comparative studies and long-term research, which constitute one of the current areas of focus (Julien Barrier, Emmanuelle Picard).

During her visit, Gaële Goastellec will give two lectures to students:

• Inequalities in access to university degrees in Europe and their evolution, from a long-term perspective;
• Conditions for academic success in the first year: academic trajectories, teaching methods, and strategies.

She will also lead two laboratory seminars:

• Analyzing the transition from secondary to higher education;
• Understanding structural discrimination in educational trajectories through the case of Switzerland and from a comparative perspective.

Major publications

• Goastellec, G. 2022. “Ethnicity on top of social class? Inclusion and diversity in access to higher education degrees in Europe (1950–2010)”. European Journal of Education, 00, 1–17.
• Goastellec G., 2020. “Le sens de la justice dans l’accès à l’Université : les contributions de la longue durée”. L’Année Sociologique. 2(70), p.283-312
• Goastellec G., 2019. “L’accès à l’enseignement supérieur enjeu de l’organisation sociale : quelques apports de la comparaison socio-historique”. SociologieS.
• Goastellec G., Välimaa J., 2019. “Access to Higher Education: an instrument for fair societies? Introduction to the special issue”, Social Inclusion, 7(1), pp.1-6.
• Détourbe M.A., Goastellec G., 2018. “Revisiting the issues of access to Higher Education and social stratification through the case of refugees: a comparative study of spaces of opportunity for refugee students in Germany and England”, Social Sciences, vol7(186).
• Goastellec G., 2017. “La mobilité internationale : une qualité des carrières et des marchés académiques en Europe ?” Journal of International Mobility. Moving for education, training and Research. Vol.4.
• Goastellec G., Välimaa J., 2017. “Expliquer les inégalités d’accès aux diplômes en Finlande et en Suisse (1950-2004) : Des structures scolaires aux politiques sociales”. Éducation et Société. 38, Vol.2, pp.105-121.