Our research projects in the area of Digital Business & New Work focus on the digital transformation of companies and educational institutions. The aim is to develop practical solutions for digital change and to support skilled workers through future-oriented training.

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Digital Business & New Work
The competence field for Digital Business & New Work is a transdisciplinary think tank at Dresden University of Applied Sciences and combines expertise from the fields of business administration, media informatics / media design and social management. The focus is on researching holistic digitalization strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises and investigating digital business models for start-ups. An integrative approach in the sense of digitalization as a cross-sectional topic is pursued, which, in addition to the introduction of new technologies and tools, also analyses the changes in business processes, user experiences and psycho-social aspects in interaction. The aim is to derive sets of measures that help SMEs and start-ups to master digital change and avoid the barriers of a one-dimensional approach. The findings are continuously incorporated into the FHD's teaching and training formats in order to prepare employees and managers for the digital challenges and produce future digital leaders.
The projects within this area of expertise deal with various key aspects of digital change. These include the promotion of digital (corporate) entrepreneurship, the creation of effective UX design processes and the development of digital leadership in order to adapt leadership skills to the needs of the digital economy. Approaches to communication and change management are also being researched to support companies in dealing with change processes, and innovative concepts for the digital workplace are being developed to shape the working environment of the future. Another focus is on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs 4.0), which need to position themselves successfully in an increasingly digitalized world.
Our research projects
ROLEPL-AI - Remote training with AI-supported simulation in the metaverse for vocational education and training in management
The Erasmus+-funded project is developing an innovative AI-supported simulation for vocational education and training in management. The remote training combines immersive technologies with artificial intelligence to create practical learning environments in the metaverse. The aim is to train and develop soft skills and conflict management in a targeted manner. Dresden University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the development of practice-oriented use cases and scenarios, while international partners are jointly driving the project forward. ROLEPL-AI offers companies and educational institutions new opportunities for digital qualification and creates future-oriented learning formats.
CANDI – CAPACITY IN DIGITAL VET TEACHING
The Erasmus+-funded project is committed to promoting the digital skills of teachers in vocational education. An innovative workshop curriculum is being developed in collaboration with partner institutions from Germany, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain. The aim is to prepare teachers for the challenges of digital change and provide them with practical methods for teaching. The blended learning concept enables flexible and effective further training in the national languages Bosnian and Albanian. Dresden University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the technical implementation of the digital learning platform. At the end of the project, a transfer concept will be drawn up to support schools in developing their own training courses. CANDI is making an important contribution to the digital transformation of vocational education and training.
G4C:NGE – Playful Learning in Next Generation Entrepreneurship
The Erasmus+ project focuses on playful learning to inspire students to start a business in a playful way. In collaboration with five European universities, an innovative curriculum for Next Generation Entrepreneurship (NGE) is being developed that integrates gamification elements into management training. Students learn in a practical way how they can use playful approaches to develop creative business ideas and design sustainable business models. The project provides methods, toolkits and training for lecturers on how to use gamification effectively in teaching. A central online platform offers teachers inspiration and materials for the classroom. With a total of 9 ECTS credits and practical content, G4C:NGE promotes the development of digital skills and innovative teaching methods. Together we create European added value for the start-ups of tomorrow!
DD-REGIOplus
Since 2020, Fachhochschule Dresden (FHD) has been actively involved in the joint project DD-REGIOplus to provide targeted support for those interested in starting a business. The focus is on UX design and prototyping, which enables innovative business ideas to be developed faster and in a more market-oriented way. The FHD offers practical workshops, start-up advice and direct exchange with experts. Students benefit from free access to many offers and can further develop their ideas with professional support. Together with strong partners such as TU Dresden and other research institutions, the FHD helps to strengthen Dresden's start-up ecosystem.
Shift plan 4.0
How can shift plans in long-term care be designed more efficiently? In the “Duty roster 4.0” project, Dresden University of Applied Sciences is working with ASB Neustadt to research how to better record and analyze downtime in care facilities. The aim is to identify correlations between working hours, age and occupational groups in order to develop tailor-made personnel strategies. Targeted data evaluations will be used to create individual downtime concepts and test them in practice. Innovative approaches will be used to optimize staff scheduling in the care sector - for greater efficiency and better working conditions.
DOmIcILE-VR - Digital training courses in the real estate industry using virtual reality
The DOmIcILE-VR project is developing a digital training program for the real estate industry that uses virtual reality to provide practical training. The aim is to qualify real estate professionals and career changers through an interactive, location-independent VR learning environment. In a realistic 3D model of an apartment, participants train how to inspect and hand over a property - from identifying defects to professional communication. Virtual role-playing games allow tenants and landlords to switch roles flexibly and test out conflict situations. This strengthens the ability to act and reduces typical sources of error. Companies benefit from efficient, online-supported training without long downtimes.
SIMPROMAT 2
How can research results be transferred into practice more quickly and in a more targeted manner? The BMBF-funded project is developing new ways of collaborating in materials research. Under the leadership of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (IPF), renowned partners such as the Materialforschungsverbund Dresden e. V. (MFD) and the Fraunhofer Group MATERIALS are working on innovative transfer formats. The focus is on the Material Demo Lab, a virtual space for collaborative prototype development and business modeling. Solutions for real challenges are developed here together with industry partners. SIMPROMAT 2 facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration with new tools, exchange programs and the Science Connector as a central interface. This creates innovations at the interface of different disciplines - for sustainable and application-oriented materials research.
DiBBLoK - Diffusion of digital technologies in vocational education and training through cooperation between learning venues
DiBBLoK researches how digital technologies can be successfully integrated into vocational education and training - in particular through cooperation between vocational schools, companies and learners. The aim is to identify factors that promote and hinder digitalization and to develop practical solutions. Digital media offer great potential for networking learning locations, creating a common information base and improving communication. The project investigates what influence management structures have on the implementation of digital processes and what role they play as drivers or obstacles. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used. By working closely with universities and research institutions, DiBBLoK contributes to the sustainable digitalization of vocational training and supports innovative training processes.