According to the framework of SIF2023, Skillman supports the development and exchange of solutions for future challenges in vocational education and training. One important area is the question of how new skills requirements of the labour market can be met through innovative approaches in training.

The interview with Mr. Holger Schmidt, head of the department for school development at ITECH Technical College in Hamburg, shows how a strategic development could be organized with agile coaches. The school got the national school award for this approach. Within the last two years, the process has been supported by the Erasmus+ project EduTrans21 – Educational transformation for the 21 st Century Skills. ITECH’s insights can be used as a template for other VET provider.

Mr. Schmidt explained how ITECH has managed a complete change in teaching and learning and in school development as a whole. Beginning with a vision to involve all colleagues the school developed and implemented a concept for individualized and self-organized learning. Total digitization was another core element of that approach.

Furthermore, all learning fields are organized as projects or agile workshops with relevant challenges – mostly SDGs – from companies or citizen associations. Internationalization was another focus leading to agile workshops with students from countries like Taiwan, Spain, France or US. The approach ensures competences in line with the 21 st Century Skills Framework.

For such fundamental school development, it is important to have a vision and apart from that to have agile coaches supporting teacher teams with their projects.
To put it in a nutshell, Holger pointed out how to get a big ship moving.

Here below is the video-interview.