Ex Post Evaluation of a Learning Factory – Competence Development Based on Graduates Feedback

Abstract

Abstract The problem-based and project-oriented learning factory format of the bachelor’s programme “Manufacturing and Operations Management” at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences was recently evaluated. The research aimed at answering the questions of how the competence profile required by the industry from the graduates’ perspective looked like, and to what extent the learning factory was able to contribute to those competence expectations. To that end, a survey among the bachelor graduates from 2015 to 2017 was initiated in March 2018. The results of this study not only confirm the general picture gained from the literature that the industry attributes great importance to so-called soft skills, i.e. self-competences and methodological competences. It also shows in detail that the specific learning factory concept at Heilbronn University strengthens, among others, particularly, those afore-mentioned specialist competences.