BeAT – Professional Development and Training CenterAt the end of August, we met in Jena with long-standing project partners, stakeholders from the regional automotive industry, and other interested parties to present and discuss our project results.
The event was opened by Rico Chmelik (Managing Director of automotive thüringen e.V.) and Klaus Dörre (Professor of Sociology of Work at the University of Jena). The automotive industry is facing major challenges due to a double transformation: in addition to the increasing digitalization of production and products, decarbonization must also be tackled. Political planning security is needed to drive forward the expansion of e-mobility.
Project coordinator Stefanie Seitz gave the guests an insight into the results achieved in the project: Many supplier companies in Thuringia are affected or threatened by job cuts or even closures. Even if the causes go beyond the switch to e-mobility, these developments are leading to skepticism among employees about climate protection measures. Information, participation, and (further) training for employees are important building blocks for coping with the automotive transformation. On the one hand, this requires technical training, such as courses on how to work with high-voltage technology. On the other hand, knowledge about the background of the transformation is also important at all levels of the company.
Our research revealed deficits in continuing vocational training in companies: Long-term personnel development strategies are often lacking because of business uncertainties due to dependencies on customers or corporate headquarters. Years of neglecting continuing education can even lead to a »continuing education withdrawal,« which means that employees must first be reintroduced to learning. Establishing active continuing education cultures in companies can help management and employees respond more flexibly to new requirements. To support this, the project developed a learning platform, which was also presented and then tested.
After a networking session over coffee and cake, a future workshop followed, in which various topics were discussed in small groups in three rounds.
In the discussion room on the topic of »company learning,« guests looked at the »organization of the future« from three perspectives: From the perspective of the human resources department, the focus is on developing long-term strategies that include skills analyses, individual development plans, and flexible learning formats. Employees, on the other hand, value learning motivation, diverse learning opportunities, and clear development prospects. They want to be more involved in shaping learning processes and have the opportunity to take responsibility for their own development. External players such as trainers and education providers emphasize the importance of cooperation and networks. They see their role in providing expertise and promoting knowledge transfer. By integrating these perspectives, companies can develop a holistic, future-proof learning culture that benefits everyone involved and strengthens their ability to adapt to future challenges.
In another room, the transformation and the conflicts arising from it were discussed. It became clear that the transformation will be accompanied by further changes in industry and the world of work. Crises such as supply bottlenecks and rising energy costs are making it difficult to strategically align decarbonization efforts. There was consensus that the support of industrial workers is essential for the success of the transformation. Good communication about the change processes is central to this. At the same time, operational and political measures must be taken to ensure that no one is left behind by the transformation in material terms.
A third discussion forum focused on the question of how the results will have a long-term impact and benefit the network partners. Various project ideas were developed that could further the approaches of the BeaT project, such as a »product atlas« modeled on the IG Metall Transformation Atlas to make materials and methods easier to find. There is a great need for »honest brokers« and permanent sources of knowledge that can act as trustworthy intermediaries and points of contact. The participants criticized the challenge of project-based financing, which often leads to short-lived offers, and called for a sustainable perspective. Closer cooperation with job centers and chambers of commerce, for example, could help to disseminate training opportunities and reach small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular. The participants pointed out that many good offers fail due to a lack of marketing. However, the conclusion was positive: statements such as »Just do it!« and “Make networks effective« encouraged participants to proactively and jointly implement the ideas developed.
We would like to thank everyone involved for the intensive exchange. As became clear on several occasions during the event, this will not end with the project period but will be continued through other channels.