“Digitalisation represents a challenge for education”

In his presentation during the Hannover Messe at the conference “Future Tracks – Gute Arbeit in der Fabrik 4.0” , held by Volkswagen and IG Metall, President of the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) Prof. Dr. Friedrich Hubert Esser emphasised the increasing importance of dealing confidently with information and communication technology. “If you can master IT techniques, you hold the key to beginning a sustainable Company 4.0 career,” said Esser.

He went on to say that, although the digitalisation of the world of work would not take place at the same tempo over all areas of the economy, there were already certain sector and occupational fields where the corresponding changes in professional profiles were foreseeable, for example the industrial electronics occupations. This is because the role of mechanics, electrotechnics, mechatronics, automation and operating technology in the division of labour and the work profiles of the skilled labour force are changing for the factories of tomorrow.

“These developments allow work profile and occupational group scenarios to be described which it is then possible to use as a point of departure for the discussion regarding future reorganisation. There will be professions which continue to exist along with with those professions which are superseded or merged,” said Esser “and there will certainly be new professions in Company 4.0.”

For the BIBB President, digitalisation is “a challenge for general and vocational education by which the future viability of Germany as a centre of education and industry will be measured.” He went on to say that results from qualification research have shown that the requirements regarding complexity, problem-solving, learning and above all flexibility would become more enhanced in the professions, and that a high level of diagnostic competence in maintenance, service and repair was expected in the industrial-technical professions, especially. According to Esser, there must be an appropriate level of readiness for vocational training to make it possible to build up the necessary process knowledge or train the required system knowledge.

“The current ICILS study,” continued Esser “shows that German pupils must still catch up with other countries when it comes to the qualifications necessary today with respect to dealing with new technology in a competent manner.” The skills deficit in vocational training could have a negative impact on the progress or success of the training. “So all initiatives which involve an improvement to the corresponding education standards in our schools are now proper and important,” emphasised the BIBB President.
Vocational colleges should see themselves more as service providers and enhance their profiles with a view to new areas of possible employment for graduates. “And companies,” added Esser, “should not only be examining the quantity but also the quality of their skilled labour demands in their training plans.”

According to Esser, although those who have completed vocational education and training are capable of mastering changing tasks for decades to come, we must, nevertheless, understand the training occupations as more than just basic occupations and as occupations which enable continuous further development. Only the capacity to act on a professional level can secure long-term employability.”