Education in 2042? Something has to happen!

Good education is the raw material of our future - to achieve this, modern ways of thinking and digitalization must finally be anchored in our education system. An interview with Carsten Maschmeyer, Managing Director of the Maschmeyer Group and member of the 42 Heilbronn Advisory Board.

What do you particularly like about the 42 concept?

I really like the idea of 42 Heilbronn, especially the peer learning concept. The students are very free in their learning, they show a high level of commitment, they work closely together and can give free rein to their professional and personal development. And the practical relevance is of course an important component: students complete internships and can deal with real coding challenges. This concept is still missing at many universities and, in my opinion, should be a matter of course. Those with sufficient practical experience will find it much easier to enter working life.

How important is education to you?

A good education is the raw material of our future, especially in Germany, a country that is otherwise poor in raw materials. Unfortunately, I am convinced that our children are getting the wrong education.
Many schools offer little or no business subjects. This is one of the reasons why entrepreneurship and business play too little of a role for young people. This urgently needs to change in order to change the mindset of the next generation. Modern ways of thinking and digitalization must finally be anchored in our education system. In our country, children still learn how many kilometers the Nile is long or when Napoleon was banished to Elba. You can google all this information. It's better in the USA: the curriculum there often includes how to pitch or program properly right from elementary school.

You are an entrepreneur and investor - what would you like to pass on to 42 from an entrepreneurial perspective?

Especially in times of crisis, it is important to be able to rely on an excellent team. The quality of the employees is crucial. I often say to my founders with a wink: if you think good staff is expensive, you should try bad staff. So my advice is to look for the best employees you can get, who fit in with you and who stand behind your philosophy. And build a complementary team! Only programmers can't do sales, marketing and investor relations.

What has been your highlight at the 42 so far?

The AI Salon on October 21 was my personal highlight, with an inspiring variety of participants from different areas: From net activists to founders to mayors. You can tell: When creative minds come together, things can really get moving. I particularly like the format because important future topics are driven forward in a network like this. It's great to see the passion and enthusiasm with which people work here.

What is your vision for 42 Heilbronn? Where do you still see potential for development?

42 Heilbronn has great potential to become the educational beacon in the field of coding for Germany. This will benefit large companies, start-ups and, of course, students. Young talents are encouraged, challenged and made fit for their careers within the framework of modern peer learning instead of outdated senior teacher concepts.