The educational pathway navigator “BIWENAV” was successfully introduced in Düsseldorf and has now also been adopted in Wuppertal, Remscheid and soon Oberhausen. The online tool bundles educational offers and helps young people to find their own educational pathways. Thanks to supra-regional cooperation, BIWENAV is being continuously improved and expanded to other cities.

The first digital “Chancengipfel” took place on the initiative of Andreas Schmitz, President of the IHK Düsseldorf. Participants included the IHK, Chamber of Crafts, City of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich Heine University and FOM University of Applied Sciences. Despite corona, there are many training and study opportunities in the region. 3,200 apprenticeships are still available in Düsseldorf and the Mettmann district. The stakeholders encouraged school leavers to explore all prospects and career options and offered their support.

Wissensregion Düsseldorf e.V. has been analyzing its work since autumn 2020. Thanks to everyone for their feedback in surveys and interviews. The results are incorporated into a strategy report. In 2021, the strategic routes will be discussed in working groups and transferred into a new direction for 2021-2025 in a central workshop.

Jens Ihsen, Director of Düsseldorf Convention, talks about the challenges and opportunities for congresses in the coronavirus era. Smaller events are possible in the first half of 2021, larger events from the second half of the year. Ihsen emphasizes Düsseldorf’s infrastructure advantages and would like to see a stronger media presence for the Wissensregion Düsseldorf.

Ulrich von Alemann bids farewell as Managing Director of the Association for the Promotion of Wissensregion Düsseldorf e.V. and hands over his office to Dr. Kai de Weldige. After five years of successful work, he thanks everyone involved and looks back on significant milestones and developments. The association will continue to be supported by Dr. Christina Rauh, while Ronja Rast is leaving the team. Keiko Ito will strengthen the team in the future.

Prof. Anja Steinbeck, Chairwoman of the Board of the Association for the Promotion of the Wissensregion Düsseldorf e.V., receives the “University Manager of the Year” award. Awarded by the CHE Center for Higher Education Development and the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, her outstanding crisis and leadership skills, especially during the corona pandemic, were recognized. The jury also praised her initiatives such as the “Citizens’ University” and the Wissensregion Düsseldorf. Congratulations, Prof. Steinbeck!

Wissensregion Düsseldorf made it possible: on October 29, 2020, IHK President Andreas Schmitz and Police President Norbert Wesseler swapped jobs. Wesseler gained insights into the tasks of the IHK, while Schmitz explored the work processes of the police. Both emphasized the enrichment and change of perspective brought about by the project.

On February 17, 2020, the municipal project “Bildungswegenavigator – der BIWENAV” was chosen as the winning project in the final of the 2019/20 innovation semester. Since then, the BIWENAV team has worked intensively on the further development of the tool. On September 7, 2020, the BIWENAV celebrated its successful relaunch and now offers pupils, students in doubt and new starters a modern, user-friendly overview of educational pathways in Düsseldorf.

Big events cast their shadows ahead: on August 12, interested parties can get to know the EUREF-Campus, which will open in 2023. Wissensregion Düsseldorf, together with EUREF AG and Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, is hosting a presentation event. The innovation campus will focus on the energy, climate and mobility of the future.

The educational opportunities in the Wissensregion Düsseldorf are constantly growing: new courses of study and further education in health, computer science, artificial intelligence, business, digitalization and culture offer a wide range of opportunities. From the IHK Düsseldorf to the Fliedner University of Applied Sciences and the HHU – the region is constantly evolving and offers ideal learning conditions.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schweizer, Scientific Director and Director of the Benrath Palace and Park Foundation, reports on future plans for Benrath Palace and cooperation with other knowledge institutions in the region. He emphasizes the role of museums as producers of knowledge and their importance for the region. The importance of cooperation with universities and the broad transfer of knowledge is also emphasized. In times of the coronavirus crisis, he calls for cultural institutions to be supported and their contribution to society to be recognized.