Remaining on the Ball for Education in the Digital World: Bottrop in Dialogue with Berlin

Anyone who wants to stay fit in their profession needs good training. The world’s leading specialist in progressive cavity pumps and digital solutions is also well aware of this: SEEPEX from Bottrop has always been committed to the comprehensive training and further education of its team and also uses state-of-the-art technology in this field. This in turn is appreciated by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). And they invited Susanne Kollmeier, who is responsible for Global Training Management at SEEPEX, to an online dialog attended by prominent guests. In the presence of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek, experts discussed the prospects and requirements for education in the digital world in a live stream. SEEPEX joined in live directly from the training workshop in Bottrop.

Ideas and Experiences from Practice

Susanne Kollmeier was able to contribute experience and ideas from the medium-sized company in North Rhine-Westphalia. For this purpose, she was interviewed by Michael Härtel (Head of the Teaching and Learning Division at BIBB). The expert described to him how the services of a new BIBB platform could support the training of the employees and which topics for advanced training she would like to see in the portfolio there. It will not be the last contact between Bottrop and Berlin: “We are now part of the ‘Digital Education Initiative’ launched by Mrs. Merkel and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. As a company that provides practical applications, we highlight how we implement the training and further education of our employees and thereby promote the development of skills in a digitally shaped world,” Kollmeier is pleased to add.

It started with a look through the virtual reality glasses

The Federal Institute became aware of SEEPEX through its participation in the “Social Virtual Learning” research project. For two years, the use of VT glasses for learning was tested at the Bottrop site in a cooperation between the Federal Ministry and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the University of Wuppertal. Virtual reality is playing an increasingly important role in pump construction. Many of the technical drawings here are now available in 3-D – a good starting point for using the glasses.

All employees learn on the SEEPEX Campus

At SEEPEX, digital learning modules have been produced for almost ten years. Company information, product training and mandatory instructions are the topics of these e-learning offers. To date, all new employees as well as all trainees worldwide complete selected “basic modules”. On the virtual “SEEPEX Campus” there are also many other segments of the learning management system, with ongoing webinars or classroom training courses, with participants being able to register for workshops and seminars.

Strengthening Germany as a country of innovation

“Making good education possible means being open and combining tried and tested teaching and learning methods with modern digital opportunities. For people of all ages. So that each and every individual can discover new things, develop their own talents and lead a self-determined life. So that we can “strengthen Germany as an innovation country” was the wording in the invitation to the Chancellor’s online dialog. SEEPEX is also staying on the ball for this: “We were recently named one of the 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany. And that also has to do with the digital training methods for our employees. That’s how we stay fit,” explains Susanne Kollmeier further.