Industry 4.0 places new demands on the training of engineers at universities, as Dr. Manfred Wittenstein emphasized at the presentation of the study 'Engineers for Industry 4.0'. He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Wittenstein and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Impuls Foundation. "We need new qualification and competence profiles in engineering education. Universities must keep pace with technological progress and adapt their curricula quickly," says Wittenstein. The Impuls Foundation, which is part of the VDMA, commissioned the Institute for Social Science Research in Munich to carry out the study.

According to the association, the authors have for the first time presented a 'target profile for engineers 4.0' based on the requirements of the mechanical engineering industry. "The digital transformation is not a sure-fire success, but requires a huge change process at universities," emphasizes Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA. "As Germany's most important engineering employer and technology leader, we in the mechanical engineering industry depend on the success of this process for our very existence."

Networking in teaching is crucial

The study shows that universities have already developed the first targeted approaches in engineering training for Industry 4.0. Nevertheless, in many cases they are still at the beginning of a necessary development. In particular, the integration of new technical content represents a major challenge: For example, there are hardly any structured decision-making processes for the inclusion of new content and the deletion of old content. In addition, administrative hurdles make it difficult to organize studies across faculties and departments.

"In many cases, subject-related silo thinking dominates in the departments and faculties," criticizes Rauen. "Networking, especially in teaching, must improve." In the future, basic knowledge of computer science will be indispensable in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering. In the same way, computer science needs mechanical and electrical engineering. "This requires a stronger interdisciplinary interlinking of course content and better cooperation between the individual departments and faculties," explains Rauen. The study recommends the introduction of a two-semester joint engineering foundation course. This would give students an equal insight into the engineering disciplines of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science.

In focus: computer science, data science and data security

"The core of the 'target profile for engineers 4.0' is formed by the technical requirements in the respective engineering disciplines," emphasizes Dr. Eckhard Heidling, researcher at ISF Munich and project manager of the study. "New skills in computer science, data science and data security are being added." Engineers 4.0 must also be able to take the perspectives of other disciplines into account in their own work. Methodological skills, in particular process and systems thinking, as well as interdisciplinary skills such as the ability to work in a team, independence and the ability to learn and adapt are therefore particularly important.

Online competence check 4.0 available

As part of the study, a "Competence Check 4.0" was also developed, which is aimed at students, employees and companies. The online tool provides information about students' own engineering skills for Industry 4.0. "In mechanical engineering, we need employees who can turn virtual worlds into real ones," emphasizes Dr. Wittenstein. "The gap between the requirements in business practice and the reality of university engineering training for Industry 4.0 must not be allowed to widen any further."

"The results of the study fully contribute to the VDMA's 'Maschinenhaus Initiative'," emphasizes Rauen with a view to further association activities. With the Maschinenhaus, the VDMA supports universities in the further development of teaching in engineering education. The starting point was the high drop-out rates in engineering. Over 50 consultancy projects have been carried out at universities since 2013. A toolbox brings together outstanding examples of good teaching. As the most highly endowed teaching prize in the engineering sciences, the "Beste Maschinenhaus" awards innovative teaching concepts for greater academic success. In future, the Maschinenhaus initiative will focus in particular on digitalization and the departments and faculties of computer science.

Computer&AUTOMATION has made the study "Engineers for Industry 4.0" available for download in the whitepaper section.