Digital education? Completely underdeveloped!

Fränzi Kühne, CDO at Edding and member of the advisory board of 42, is almost considered a celebrity in the German IT scene today. A conversation about the digital education disaster in Germany, SMEs playing catch-up and places like 42 as a glimmer of hope.

Fränzi, what is the state of digital education in Germany?

First of all, we have to start with the question: What is the state of education in general in Germany? Take a look at the education summit in mid-March. Only two out of 16 education ministers showed up. All the others canceled! What does that say about the appreciation of education in Germany? I couldn't believe it.

...and things don't look any better when it comes to digital education?

Exactly! Digital education in Germany is completely underdeveloped. Let's take a look at the number of computer science teachers in Germany: Last year, only just over 700 graduated from university with a computer science degree. Yet we have 800,000 teachers in Germany! And why is that? For example, because IT education is not an integral part of the curriculum. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the only federal state where IT is a compulsory subject. Two federal states do not offer it at all. This clearly shows that we are dealing with a structural problem here.

And what needs to happen now?

Clearly, education policy must take action here. The next steps would be Making computer science a school subject and investing in technical training for teachers. But I don't just want to point the finger at politicians. Ultimately, we are dealing with a social problem. For example, if you look at how SMEs are positioned digitally, I say: grade 5, go for it!

What are the core problems in the German SME sector?

SMEs are incredibly well positioned when it comes to production. Germany has many hidden champions that have been delivering top quality for decades. But the opportunities and requirements arising from digitalization are being massively neglected. To put it bluntly: SMEs are good at hardware, but not at software. A concrete example: In IT, everyone is somehow fiddling around with similar problems instead of using standard solutions. There is a tendency to always build systems themselves and adapt major problems. And in the end, they are surprised that their systems are not suitable for large, efficient software solutions. Another example: in many companies, digital aspects are seen as downstream support and services and are criminally neglected in product design. A fatal degradation! I am convinced that digital aspects must be part of every decision.

At Edding, we want to systematically think digitally about every project right from the start. With two digital directors, we are certainly a pioneer in this respect. However, as CDOs, we are only a temporary solution. In the end, it is important that every member of the Management Board is highly competent in this area and that this function is no longer needed.

What are your specific digitalization topics?

On the one hand, there are more or less technical issues, such as new tools and IT systems. On the other hand - and certainly even more important - it's about convincing colleagues and shaping a positive view of progress and change. This is not a sure-fire success! Employees who have done a great job for over three decades are right to ask why they should change certain processes. You need good arguments and you have to show them ways in which they can help shape the change. We also need new people who can provide fresh impetus and bring different knowledge with them. And this is where 42 Heilbronn comes into play.

What do you value about 42?

We talked at the beginning about what is going wrong in terms of digital education. The 42 closes precisely this gap and creates an incredibly important offer. And it does so with an exciting approach and extremely innovative teaching methods. Unlike regular computer science courses, 42 is not about rote learning or long-winded theory. Firstly, the coders learn to solve problems in a very practical way. And they do so in close cooperation with the companies based in the region. That is a tremendous treasure! We are currently experiencing how an IT knowledge cluster is being created around 42 Heilbronn.

Secondly, all content is developed together and in close cooperation. In the process, 42 students also learn soft skills that I absolutely need as a company: How do I act in a team? How can I give clear and appreciative feedback? How do I acquire knowledge myself? I really appreciate this specific 42 mindset and this hands-on mentality. That's why we want to work together even more in the future - and of course hope to inspire young talent to join Edding!