Learning to change!
The world is changing, the challenges are increasing. In order to overcome them and turn them into opportunities, we must strengthen the social foundations – with a new understanding of education.
Every year, International Education Day on January 24 underlines the central role of education for equal opportunities and sustainable change. It reminds us that education is the prerequisite for everyone to be able to realize their full potential, both personally and professionally. One thing is clear to me: in order to master the challenges of the future and take advantage of new opportunities, we need a new understanding of education for society as a whole.
In a world characterized by rapid technological progress, climate change and social upheaval, traditional educational concepts are no longer sufficient. I therefore believe that we should rethink education in times of permanent transformation. We need a culture that promotes openness, flexibility and critical thinking. We should be more empowered to fundamentally change our thinking and actively shape the world.
That's easy to say, but let's think about the last time we personally learned something that really fundamentally changed our perspective. Do we really have examples of this? And how do we deal with information that challenges existing beliefs and differs from our own perspectives?
Transformative times require new content
Transformative learning asks these questions and encourages flexible thinking. It helps us to understand new realities and challenge existing paradigms, enabling us to face the challenges of a complex and dynamic world much more clearly. Transformative learning contributes to creating a knowledge-based, empathetic community that uses curiosity, commitment and expertise to turn the challenges of our time into opportunities. Transformative learning has a wide range of additional positive effects. Above all, it helps people to actively and consciously shape their lives and improve their self-efficacy. This supports them in acquiring new skills and actively shaping change.
For me, it's as clear as day: education doesn't end with school – quite the opposite. Often, we adults have to catch up on what we didn't learn or couldn't learn at school. Essential life skills such as managing consciousness, emotions, finances and mindset should therefore become more relevant in school in order to better prepare young people for a complex world. We all learned later that we not only have to master technology, but also learn to treat ourselves better. That means reflecting on and shaping our emotions, our thinking and our attitudes more consciously. For me, these are the real key competencies for a successful transformation, both at the individual and organizational level.
Learning as an integrated process
At Covestro, we are demonstrating that this is possible. Our company relies on a culture that promotes transformative learning. In addition to traditional training opportunities such as courses and workshops, we are increasingly offering formats that strengthen critical thinking, innovation and social skills. One example of this is Expedition C, which offers Covestro employees space for dialog, creativity and reflection. This internal training platform not only imparts knowledge, but – in my opinion – is also really fun, meaningful and connects employees with each other. This makes learning a fully integrated process that promotes personal development, well-being and professional success – exactly the right approach in the challenging times of transformation!
The examples show: Transformative learning creates a culture of continuous growth and innovation. This is good for companies looking to strengthen their competitive position and innovative strength. But it is also good for each individual, because education is much more than just the acquisition of knowledge. Education is the key to a sustainable and innovative future – and thus an opportunity for all of us! Let's seize it – each and every day!