Industry 4.0: changes in work organization and qualification requirements\u2014challenges for academic and vocational education

Harm Kuper

doi:10.1007/s41959-020-00029-1

Abstract

The following article is based on the observation that digitalisation in the world of work does on the one hand trigger processes of change, leading to shifts and new constellations in the required qualifications. On the other hand, the effects of digitalisation on qualification requirements are moderated by work organisation. Against the background of a generalist understanding of academic and vocational qualifications, the article deals with the question what curricula correspond to the changing requirements of digitalisation under the new organizational circumstances of Industry 4.0. Turning to the discussion of preparatory qualifications for occupations in Industry 4.0, it follows the hypothesis that the technological developments that lead to a change in qualification needs also increase the potential to meet those needs. This leads to the idea of a digital signature pedagogy.

Highlights

The effects of digitalisation on qualification requirements are only evident in the way work organisation is resolved, and the fourth industrial revolution is often described as a fuzzy concept whose concrete consequences are not foreseeable, certain technological capabilities are the focus of attention
Polarisation means a clear separation of coordinating and operating activities. While in this model the coordinating activities are based on specific qualifications acquired in academic or vocational training courses, the qualification requirements for operative work are assumed to be at a low level
For vocational and academic education programmes, this creates the challenge of preparing students to be competent users of digital media at the same time as preparing them for their professional activities

Summary

Introduction

Digitalised communication media can be used to develop links between industrial work and vocational learning that are not available with analogue communication. The following article is based on the observation that digitalisation in the world of work does on the one hand trigger processes of change with a high momentum of their own, leading to shifts and new constellations in the required qualifications. The fourth industrial revolution is based on technological innovations in digitalisation which change the interfaces between human labour and computer-controlled processes.

Results

Conclusion