Here’s what it’s all about:
From 15 to 19 June 2026, the SRH University’s Dresden campus hosted a themed week entitled ‘Future Work & AI – How AI is transforming organisations, skills and leadership’. The series of events brought together perspectives from business psychology, academia and corporate practice and was aimed not only at students but also specifically at company representatives, managers and HR professionals. By opening the event to external participants, a practical dialogue emerged on the impact of artificial intelligence on the working world of tomorrow.
Particular emphasis was placed on the question of what skills organisations will need in future to use AI technologies responsibly and effectively. As part of the Future Skills Lab, business psychology students developed concrete strategies for promoting AI skills within organisations. The focus was therefore not solely on the technology, but above all on the people who work with it and shape change.
The topics covered reflected key challenges currently facing businesses. Among other things, the following were discussed:
It became clear that a successful AI transformation goes far beyond the introduction of new tools. Rather, skills development, the ability to reflect and a conscious approach to technological possibilities are crucial factors for success. The theme week thus adopted an approach that is also supported by current research findings.
International organisations such as the OECD and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) define trustworthy AI on the basis of criteria such as
Research findings also show that trust in AI systems is fostered in particular when employees are involved at an early stage and are given the opportunity to develop the relevant skills.
A more nuanced picture is also emerging regarding the economic benefits of AI. Whilst studies do demonstrate significant productivity gains in certain areas of application, such as knowledge-intensive tasks or customer service, the actual added value depends heavily on the quality of implementation. Key factors include, amongst others,
The use of AI in human resources remains a particularly sensitive issue. European regulations set out clear guidelines in this area. For example, certain forms of emotion recognition in the workplace are deemed unacceptable. At the same time, recent research indicates that algorithmic systems in recruitment continue to pose risks in terms of fairness and potential discrimination. Companies are therefore faced with the challenge of reconciling technological innovation with responsible HR decision-making.
SRH University’s AI theme week impressively demonstrated that the future of work is not determined by technological developments alone. Rather, the decisive factor is the interplay between technology, human decision-making competence and organisational learning. It is precisely at this interface between academia, practice and skills development that the university focuses its efforts, thereby making an important contribution to shaping a responsible and sustainable world of work.
