New project at the University of Halle: Focus on the future of the construction industry!

New project at the University of Halle: Focus on the future of the construction industry!

The Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) has launched a new young research group that deals with the exciting interface between universities and the construction professions. How dubisthalle.de reports, the project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) with up to 2.2 million euros. The aim of the group led by Dr. Alexander Mitterle is leading the development of practical recommendations for action for the construction industry.

A central topic of the “Border Zones of Academization” research group is the question of how academic knowledge fits into training in the construction professions. In times when more and more young people are deciding to study, it is more important than ever to analyze the influence of this academization on the construction industry. The group plans to organize various research stays at universities and interdisciplinary training centers and to carry out targeted analyzes of job advertisements in the construction industry.

Challenges in the labor market

The situation on the labor market shows that there is a serious shortage of skilled workers. Loud tagesschau.de More than 2.8 million young people are enrolled in Germany, many of whom do not complete their studies. At the same time, numerous training positions remain unfilled - last year there were around 70,000. This discrepancy could harm the economy in the long term, as it is predicted that in the next few years there will be a shortage of around 50,000 skilled workers in regions such as Rhineland-Palatinate.

The example of Holger Bentz, Managing Director of the IHK Koblenz, shows that this situation is particularly challenging for small businesses. He emphasizes that the demand for trainees remains high despite the difficult economic situation. The attitude that studying could be overrated is also becoming more and more apparent - as shown by the example of Alexandra Gilles, who consciously decided against studying and opted for practical training and thus made a successful career.

Academization versus practical training

How developments in research and on the labor market are intertwined is also clear from the new research group. The planned research activities are not only intended to explore the relationship between studies and crafts, but also to strengthen the role of training offers. The proportion of high school graduates among applicants for training places is increasing again, which could represent a positive development for the quality of training.

In summary, it can be said that the new research group at MLU is setting an important example in the area of ​​academization of the construction professions and at the same time addressing the emerging shortage of skilled workers. While academic training is highly valued, the challenge of making practical training centers and vocational training attractive remains and urgently requires new reforms. Developments in the construction industry will therefore not only have a decisive influence on research, but also on practice.

The planned podcast, which will examine the topics of academization and training from different perspectives, both from researchers and practitioners, will also be interesting. Such initiatives could help make the construction industry sustainable and attract young talent to this important sector.