Editorial INDUSTRIAL Production 10/22
Lessons ...
... in computer science was still something exotic when I took a basic course in year 12 in 1988. The teachers weren't specially trained and very few of them knew much about the subject. But we managed to get by, also with the help of fellow students with computer experience, and so we learned rudimentary programming. There was a great deal of interest in the computer science courses because, firstly, without programming skills, the use of the home computer was limited at the time and, secondly, there was a feeling that computer science could be useful in some way in the future.
I was reminded of this a few days ago when I heard a conversation on SWR 1 with the mathematician and director of the Bundes-Höchstleistungsrechenzentrum in Stuttgart, Prof. Michael Resch. He considers digital skills to be just as essential as reading and arithmetic and sees a lack of digital education as a key problem: "I ask students: 'Who has learned anything about programming in school? 20 years ago, a third raised their hand, today it's only 10 to 20%."
According to Resch, there is a lack of IT teachers today, just as there was in the 80s and 90s. As a result, students also lack digital skills. Perhaps our "skills shortage" also has something to do with a lack of education. In contrast to many Asian countries, however, there are also reservations here: Digitalization does not fit in with the culture. Resch emphasizes that it is perfectly possible to read Goethe and program. Openness to new things accompanied by constant questioning is crucial. Critical debate, in turn, requires background knowledge - education.
A number of trade fairs are coming up in November, which we report on in this issue. The exhibitors at SPS, Formnext and Euroblech are also very interested in ensuring that modern education is geared towards cultural achievements as well as the needs of the future.
Best regards, Your
Andreas Mühlbauer
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