AI is reshaping entry-level jobs: why real-world learning matters more

Artificial intelligence is transforming the world of work – and with it, the requirements for entering the workforce. As digital systems increasingly take over routine tasks, skills that go far beyond mere specialist knowledge are becoming increasingly important: solving complex problems, understanding interrelationships, making decisions and applying knowledge in new situations.

This is precisely where SRH University comes in: with its CORE (Competence Oriented Research and Education) teaching model, it combines academic knowledge with practical application and prepares students to tackle challenges from the real world of work. Through project-based learning, teamwork and engaging with specific issues, students develop the skills they will need in their future careers. 

“The demands placed on companies are changing. It is no longer simply a question of whether graduates possess specific knowledge, but whether they can apply that knowledge in new situations,” says Prof. Dr Christian Kapteyn, Head of AI in Business at SRH University. “Particularly when dealing with artificial intelligence, skills such as critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving are becoming increasingly important. Companies need people who understand technology, but above all are able to use it to make good decisions.” 

SRH University’s own CORE Future Skills: How the university integrates future-oriented skills into its teaching 

To prepare students specifically for the demands of a changing world of work, SRH University has developed the CORE Future Skills and firmly integrated them into its curricula. They are not an additional offering alongside the degree programme, but an integral part of the entire learning process. SRH University takes a unique approach to this: future-oriented skills are not developed in isolation from the subject-specific course, but through the practical application of knowledge. Students tackle real-world problems, develop their own solutions, collaborate across disciplines and reflect on their results. These are skills that are crucial in the modern world of work: the confident and reflective use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, effective communication and collaboration, creative problem-solving, and the ability to cope with change and take on responsibility. 

From university to the world of work: practical experience as the key to employability

For businesses, the use of AI means not only technological change but also new demands on staff. There is a need for graduates who combine specialist knowledge with adaptability, problem-solving skills and the ability to act in complex situations.  

“A modern university must prepare students to deal confidently with change and apply their knowledge in new situations. That is why today it is no longer just about imparting specialist knowledge, but about creating learning environments in which students can gain their own experience, take on responsibility and continuously develop their skills,” says Prof. Dr Victoria Büsch, Rector of SRH University. “Our aim is not only to equip graduates for their career start, but also to strengthen them in the long term for a world of work characterised by technological change, international cooperation and new challenges.” 

SRH University therefore views practical relevance not as a supplement to the degree programme, but as a central component of modern higher education. With CORE, SRH University aims not only to train students for the current labour market, but also to prepare them for change in the long term. After all, the world of work of the future will be shaped not only by new technologies, but also by people’s ability to use these technologies effectively and to work together to develop solutions to complex challenges.