The team working on the project to design and test the "European Open Academy" (EurOpA for short) training academy in the Upper Lusatia innovation region surveyed more than 200 regional companies on their future training needs - in particular on learning content, forms of learning, learning spaces and factors that promote and inhibit training.

One of the results was a training course specially tailored to the needs of companies in our region: Working World 4.0 - Digital Skills for the Upper Lusatia of Tomorrow. In face-to-face and online events as well as in a self-learning phase, the topics of communication and cooperation with content on role and group processes, cultural generational differences, the creativity technique of De Bono's six thinking hats, team communication with the web-based platform Podio, feedback methods and various questioning techniques were taught in a total of twelve work units.

The participants drew a consistently positive conclusion. In particular, the active exchange on the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation of the world of work, changing value chains and measures for climate protection made the importance of such interdisciplinary training courses for the qualification and motivation of employees and for strengthening the competitiveness of regional companies more than clear.

Authors: Reno Rössel and Daniel Winkler