"Knowledge. Transfer. Application." (pdf) - Steinbeis-Hochschule ...

04 | Focus
Potential.Competence.Personality.
Skills and competence development: the goal of Steinbeis
University Berlin. Knowledge and training fuel potential,
from which skills and competence stem. However, it
takes a lot more for employees in the workplace to be
in a position to think, act and solve problems under
their own steam. It takes emotional intelligence,
personality in a broader sense. Skills and competence
are the trans formation of pure learning into individual
emotions, motivations and success!
In a knowledge society, employees find themselves less and less pre-occupied with the
need to carry out clearly defined tasks. Simply performing duties, based on strictly laid
down qualifications, is becoming a thing of the past. What businesses require today is
a workforce that is action-oriented, even in times of uncertainty. Markets are undergoing
continual change. And the only real constant is change itself. The experts and
people that get things done are the ones that remain adaptable under such circumstances
– the ones that take responsibility for their actions, have an ability to think
laterally, and are capable of working independently or as part of a team.
The key challenge is to take the lessons learned on degree or professional development
programs and apply them to the vocational environment. This often goes wrong,
because too much emphasis is placed on developing technical, “hands-on” skills.
What it really takes to develop competence are personal, action-based, social skills.
These put employees in a position to do more than carry out specific duties. These
programs prepare them for a variety of roles and positions, providing them with the
tools to cope – at any time – with unforeseen circumstances. So the key issue is not
to focus on usable skills and capabilities, but to adapt the focus of conventional education
to more modern-day tangible requirements.