30 Years of ZEW - An Interview with Mustafa Turna on Continuing Education Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Mr Turna, you have been head of ZEW for three years. What were your first impressions when you took on this position?

My first impression was that ZEW has enormous potential. It combines scientific quality with a strong practical orientation - this is precisely its particular strength. Even then it was clear that continuing education was not just an additional programme, but a central task of our university. The FHP had a clear vision: to support people beyond their studies and to firmly establish lifelong learning.

ZEW can look back on three decades of history. What developments and milestones of the institution have particularly struck you?

The continuous development of ZEW and the continuity of its work are particularly impressive. Some continuing education programmes have been running for over two decades - and with great success. I would particularly like to emphasise KITA Management, for example: not only has the training programme been offered for a long time, it is also constantly adapting to new requirements and developments.

This consistency shows that ZEW not only follows trends, but also creates sustainable added value in continuing education. At the same time, it reflects the innovative strength of the institution and the FHP as a whole: new topics are taken up, curricula are further developed and ZEW thus remains close to the needs of participants and practice. The university certificates stand for reliability and quality.

How has continuing education at ZEW changed in terms of content and methodology?

Continuing education at ZEW has developed considerably in recent years, both in terms of content and methodology. Today, we combine classroom and online formats, award ECTS points and offer micro-credentials, micro-degrees and pure e-learning courses. This creates flexible, customisable learning paths that can be optimally integrated into the everyday lives of our participants.

What is exciting is that our programmes are designed as integrated training courses: Many courses build on each other, so that further education is not a one-off, but a continuous learning process.

Lifelong learning is a key issue today. How does ZEW support learners in this?

We see ourselves as an educational companion across all phases of life and career. Our programmes are practical, flexible and can be used directly in everyday working life. Nine out of ten participants report that they can successfully apply what they have learnt before the end of the course. This is possible because our courses consistently combine the latest research with application-orientated methods and thus impart skills that have a direct impact in the workplace.

ZEW offers a wide range of courses and programmes. Which programmes are particularly popular and what do you focus on when designing the courses?

Programmes in social pedagogy, constellation work, anti-discrimination, archive and cultural management as well as management and coaching topics are particularly popular. When designing our programmes, we pay attention to a balanced mix of scientific foundation and practical relevance. Small groups, dialogue at eye level, networking opportunities and learning formats that take into account the needs of working people are just as important to us as innovative, flexible learning concepts.

2024 was the most successful year in ZEW's history - a success that shows why we are recognised as a top university for continuing education. Demand for many courses was so high that waiting lists were created. We have expanded successful formats into product families and extended co-operations. We want to continue along this path.

Digitalisation is fundamentally changing the way we learn. How is ZEW dealing with this development?

We recognised these dynamics as an opportunity early on. Today, we develop blended learning courses and web-based training programmes that combine digital and face-to-face forms of learning in a meaningful way. In this way, we remain flexible, enable learning independent of time and place and at the same time ensure the quality of the exchange.

We also rely on digital infrastructure and services, for example in course organisation, registration processes and evaluation, in order to continuously optimise our offerings and provide participants with the best possible support.

Let's look ahead. What goals and visions does ZEW have for the coming years?

Continuing education is becoming increasingly important. In a working world characterised by demographic changes, upheavals in job profiles and advancing digitalisation, lifelong learning is becoming indispensable. Our aim is to link learning and work even more closely and to organise continuous professional development as a bridge between study and professional practice.

Our focus is on transfer orientation, practical knowledge and skills transfer and the promotion of continuous learning processes. We want to consistently expand our programmes both in terms of depth - through clearly structured subject areas - and breadth - through new content. Modular building block systems that enable a connection to our study programmes are particularly important. In this way, we create synergies between degree programmes and continuing education.

Co-operation with other institutions is an important part of our work. What role do partnerships with companies, universities and other educational institutions play?

Co-operations are a central element of our strategy. We have a partner ecosystem with universities, organisations and associations. These networks enable us to develop practical and innovative programmes and increase the reach of our offerings.

In conclusion: What motivates you personally in your work at ZEW and what experiences are particularly important to you?

What motivates me most is to see how continuing education has a direct impact: when participants apply new things directly, advance their careers or change organisations. One of my key concerns is the collaboration with our dedicated team, the lecturers and our partners. Together, we are able to position ZEW as a driving force for lifelong learning in the region and far beyond.

Personal details:
Mustafa Turna has been Head of the Centre for Continuing Education (ZEW) at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences since 2022. Prior to this, he was Head of the DIN Academy and Director of an international conference organiser. He got his start in conference work directly after his studies at the International Freshwater Conference in Bonn, which was attended by over 2,500 participants from around 135 countries - including government representatives, NGOs and experts - and in which he was involved in designing the content of the programme.

The questions were asked by Steffi Brune, Press and Science Communication