Tackling Challenges Together: Customized Programs at the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning

Megatrends such as globalization or New Work, disruptions such as the Covid 19 pandemic or the development of new technologies are constantly posing challenges to the economy. The experts at the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning support companies and organizations with Customized Programs to meet these challenges with targeted training of leaders and experts. A look behind the scenes.

The TÜV SÜD Global Expert Development Program entered its first pilot phase in 2016. A lot has happened since then: Eight of the organization’s international groups have gone through the course on a part-time basis, most recently completely digitally. The program does not remain rigid, quite the opposite; it is continuously adapted to the needs of the different groups. From Change Management to Innovation & Product Development to Knowledge Sharing, experts from the Technical University of Munich work with TÜV SÜD employees on topics relevant to the future. The goal of the training: to make employees fit for challenges in their areas.

The cooperation with TÜV SÜD is just one example of a partnership in the field of continuing education that the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning maintains as part of its Customized Programs. As Team Lead Certificate & Customized Programs, Stephanie Bastin has been responsible for program development for several years, together with her colleague Silvia Hagn and Managing Director Bernhard Kraus. Each new project is exciting in its own way, she says: “Developing a Customized Program is always a highlight for me, because it’s great to be able to contribute to the development of a specific target group and thus the entire company. Seeing the development of the participants and the organization over the duration of the program is incredibly motivating.”

Applying the latest research to practical challenges

On-site courses, a hybrid format or completely virtual, topics such as strategy development to the use of the latest tech trends, target groups such as executives, management or subject matter experts – during program development, the employees of the TUM Institute for LifeLongLearning are closely involved with company contacts to convey the relevant topics in the appropriate format.

“We combine the latest research results from all areas of the Technical University of Munich with our experience of the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning in the field of further education. The high level of practical relevance is important to us, which means that the participants in the Customized Programs can implement the knowledge generated in their everyday work,” says Stephanie Bastin. That is why she also relies on the use of case studies and, together with the team, includes interactive methods such as leadership development via leadership profiles, virtual reality, modules for learning transfer or gamification approaches in the programs.

Innovative teaching and learning methods in further education

One example for this approach is the “NEON” project, which was implemented together with Infineon Technologies: Infineon developed clear principles for successful leadership, but needed support in disseminating them throughout the organization. The team at the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning provided a solution in the form of a complex but easy-to-use app. First, the candidates created a “leadership profile” that gave them information about their individual strengths and areas for development and showed potential with regard to the leadership principles. The managers used the digital coaching app for continuous self-reflection and further development.

Stephanie Bastin’s conclusion: “Each program is exciting in its own way. We often prepare a similar topic in a completely different way for different companies. And so we at the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning learn something new with every partnership as well.”