Against the impressive industrial backdrop of the Völklinger Hütte World Cultural Heritage Site, digital change and the role of human skills were discussed on May 21, 2025 Around 100 guests from business, science and society accepted the invitation from the Scheer School of Digital Sciences at Saarland University and Wirtschaftsnetzwerk Saar e.V. (WIN) and took part in the event “Future skills: People! AI, skills, transformation – and you in the middle of it?”.
The evening began with an exclusive tour of the hut and the exhibition “The True Size of Africa”, which impressively linked history, global perspectives and the future. Even at the champagne reception, it became clear how great the need for networking and interdisciplinary exchange is.
The keynote speech by Dr. Anke Terörde-Wilde, Member of the Management Board at ITB Consulting GmbH, was the central point of the program. In her presentation “Future skills in the age of AI: making visible what counts – promoting what has a future”, she made it clear that companies and organizations today need to focus on potential and skills that go beyond technical expertise. “It’s not just about what people can do today, but about what potential they have for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Dr. Terörde-Wilde. She emphasized that skills such as analytical and creative thinking, self-awareness, motivation and empathy are crucial in the AI-driven world of work: “Anyone who forgets about people in digitalization will fail because of the technology.”
Managing Director Sebastian Kreibich presented the newly founded Scheer School of Digital Sciences and emphasized “We don’t just want to impart knowledge, we want to empower people and organizations to actively shape the digital future. Evenings like this show how important dialog between disciplines and sectors is in order to jointly develop solutions for the challenges of digital change. “
After the keynote, the graduates of the first certificate program at the Scheer School took center stage. The certificates were ceremoniously presented by Prof. Dr. Ludger Santen, President of Saarland University; Prof. Dr. Benedikt Schnellbächer, Managing Director of the Scheer School; and Jonathan Weber, Chief Transformation Officer of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co. KGaA.
Prof. Dr. Schnellbächer emphasized the special significance of this moment:
“Our graduates are living proof that lifelong learning and the courage to embrace change are more important today than ever before. They are the bridge builders between technology, society, and the economy. It’s not just about what we can do—it’s about our potential to actively shape the future.”
Sebastian Kreibich also picked up on this message and added:
“Future skills are the key to seeing transformation as an opportunity rather than a risk. We need the courage to embrace new ideas while placing people—along with their skills and creativity—at the center.”
In the subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Christine Eckert, Dr. Anke Terörde-Wilde (ITB Consulting), Meike Scheer (Scheer GmbH), Jonathan Weber (SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co. KGaA), and Prof. Dr. Benedikt Schnellbächer (Scheer School of Digital Sciences) explored the demands placed on leaders in the age of artificial intelligence and the societal responsibility that comes with it.
The lively discussion offered the audience an opportunity to actively participate and gain insights from a variety of perspectives.
The evening concluded with a relaxed get-together, where guests and participants continued their conversations in an informal setting.
The feedback on the event made one thing clear: the topic of future skills resonates with people—and the Scheer School is providing strong momentum to actively shape this transformation.
