Job Upgrade - The certificate programme

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Job qualification next level: The Work@Heart certificate programme increases students' chances of successfully starting a career - flexibly, sustainably and parallel to their studies.

What is the certificate programme?

The workshops and offers of the certificate programme are an interdisciplinary additional qualification alongside the course content of the departments. The content imparts skills that are in demand in the world of work now and in the future and enables networking with employers in Brandenburg. The certificate is recognised by companies as proof of knowledge and is an advantage for job applications.

Job Upgrade participants can develop in-depth skills in one or each of the four focus areas:

  • Perspectives on sustainability
  • Digital world of work
  • Intercultural competences
  • Diversity & self-care

The certificate programme is accompanied by networking events, career talks, job shadowing and students on tour formats, which provide valuable contacts to potential employers and companies in Brandenburg.

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Structure and procedure

Over two semesters, participants gain deeper insights into their respective professional field, attend customised workshops and build a lasting network. There is a choice of three specialisations to suit their job aspirations and offer the following benefits:

  • Valuable contacts to companies in Brandenburg
  • Career talks and job shadowing with self-initiated organisation
  • Coaching, workshops and lectures on career-related questions and mindset topics
  • A limited number of participants (maximum 15 people) for an intensive learning experience and familiar atmosphere
  • meaningful proof in the form of a certificate of participation from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam for your application documents
More Skills for Better Jobs
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    Perspectives on sustainability

    As part of three workshops, the participants will take an interdisciplinary look at current and future sustainability issues and learn how to develop their own measures for sustainable working in a company.

    1st workshop "Sustainability as a social challenge" in cooperation with the Virtual Academy for Sustainability at the University of Bremen

    • 12 free, freely selectable self-study courses in video format
    • online: can be attended flexibly in terms of time and location, completion via e-exam
    • Open to all students and other university members, including those outside the certificate programme

    2nd workshop "Sustainable Management" organised by the Central Academic Institution for Start-up Services and Management Qualifications (ZEGM)

    • Sustainable behaviour of companies and instruments for sustainable resource management

    3rd workshop "Education for Sustainable Development" (ESD) from the Department of Social and Educational Sciences

    • Empowering people to think and act sustainably and enabling successful ESD in a business environment
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    Digital transformation

    The "Digital Transformation" workshop series enables participants to actively shape the digital development and reorganisation of companies in order to make them future-proof.

    1st workshop "Data Science and Digital Literacy" from the Department of Information Sciences

    • Professional handling of digital media, basics of data collection, methods and processes of data utilisation

    2nd workshop "Digital Management" organised by the Central Academic Institution for Start-up Services and Management Qualifications (ZEGM)

    • Successful organisation of digital change in companies as well as concepts, approaches and methods (e.g. agile project management) for operational development

    3rd workshop "Digital law and data protection" with external experts

    • Basics of GDPR, information and IT security, legal implications of digital change in a company and orientation for concrete implementation measures in practice
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    Internationalisation & intercultural competence

    The programme qualifies participants for internationally oriented companies in Brandenburg, for cooperation in international projects or intercultural teams in Germany and abroad.

    1st workshop "Intercultural Competence" from the International Office

    • Action and conflict resolution skills as well as tools for discrimination-sensitive communication

    2nd workshop "Dimensions of internationalisation in business" presented by ZEGM

    • Measurability of the degree of internationalisation of companies and profitable use of economic and cultural characteristics

    3. compulsory part with options

    • Study-related stay abroad (min. 4 weeks) with creditable study visits, internships or specialised excursions
    • Language course (at least 30 teaching units): e.g. at the adult education centre in the Bildungsforum (VHS) Potsdam/at the FHP
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    Diversity & self care

    The thematically diverse workshops provide participants with fundamental methods and basic knowledge to create an inclusive, positive and productive working environment in the company and/or in the team.

    The following possible focal points will be addressed in the three planned workshops:

    • Conflict management, non-violent communication
    • Self and time management
    • Equal opportunities, gender equality, advancement of women
    • Anti-discrimination, behaviour in the event of bullying

Questions and answers

The programme's offerings should be seen as an additional qualification that is taught independently of the knowledge acquired on the degree programme and beyond. These skills are in demand on the labour market and provide corresponding advantages in future job applications. Companies orientated towards greater efficiency thus receive 2 skills in one person.

In general, you can register for the programme from the first semester. However, we recommend starting from the 3rd semester so that the time between the certificate and starting the job is not too long.

Send an email to 360gradzukunft@fh-potsdam.de or call us on +49 331 580-2039 and we will arrange a consultation.

Alternatively, you can also come to the open consultation hour, which takes place every third Tuesday of the month from 12 to 1 p.m. via Zoom.

You can complete the certificate within one year (2 semesters). Entry takes place in the winter semester.

No, it is also possible to obtain 2 or 3 certificates. However, the time required is then correspondingly higher.

Of course. There is no certificate for this, but a certificate of attendance can be issued in any case and serve as proof for application documents, for example.

Yes and no. Participation in the Keypiece workshops is mandatory in order to receive a certificate in the respective orientation (Perspectives on Sustainability, Digital Transformation or Internationalisation & International Competence). In addition, you must choose one of the three programmes Job Shadowing, Career Talk or Students on Tour.

Participation in the general programmes such as coaching or workshops on job applications, time management etc. is optional.

Contact us

ZEGM – Start-up and Management Qualification Unit

360gradzukunft@fh-potsdam.de
House 4
Room 3.01

Administration & Support

Neslihan Ulrichs
Administration and project controlling Work@heart
Coordination Germany Scholarship