"Goodbye, U-Steel" – A Midterm Report
"Goodbye, U-Steel" – A Midterm Assessment
As part of the “U-Stahl ade” project, which aims to redesign inter-company training (ÜBA) for metalworking and electrical trades at the participating inter-company vocational training centers (ÜBS) in such a way as to provide a tailor-made program for companies and a learner-centered training structure in the form of a “trainee company.” Our department designed, supervised, and evaluated this study, which was conducted by the project partners at the three ÜBS.
The aim of the study was to identify the current needs of companies regarding the redesign of training for metalworking and electrical trades. To this end, co-creation workshops were held at a total of 14 companies in the South Westphalia region within the metal and electrical industries, with participants from the fields of training and human resources management. The questions and discussions focused not only on the content to be taught, learning environments, mentoring concepts, and expectations regarding the use of digital teaching and learning tools, but also assessed the companies’ views on the desired training model for a company that takes on apprentices.
On the one hand, the study’s findings confirmed the project’s objectives. Respondents rated the teaching of business contexts—and the associated awareness of other specialized departments and areas within the framework of an apprentice-training company—particularly positively. On the other hand, important implications for further project and research work were derived. Specific areas for focus emerged regarding the teaching and promotion of knowledge-acquisition strategies among trainees—such as through the independent use of and work with digital media—as well as working independently and fostering cooperation and networking for knowledge exchange among trainees.
Based on these identified requirements, a concept for a socio-technical system will now be developed as the project progresses, designed to specifically support and promote peer learning and mentoring.