State of the Art of European Learning Factories for the Digital Transformation - A Survey on Technologies, Learning Concepts and Their Performance

Abstract

Learning factories constitute a promising approach for the acquisition of specific competencies, especially in terms of a digital transformation of the economy. Respectively, a variety of such factories differing in technology, learning concept, and potential audience have evolved. A precise and recent overview of those does not exist. However, such an overview is required for the implementation of concrete political measures, a future-oriented development of the individual learning factories, and an adequate selection by the audience. For this purpose, the authors investigate the current state of the art of European learning factories in the context of digitization. Thus, the terminology and definition of learning factories are provided. Moreover, using a structured literature review, the factories and their operation mode are outlined. Subsequently, the authors evaluate whether the different factories can build the required competencies among the audience and thus, support a successful digital transformation. Additionally, expert interviews with learning factory operators are performed to obtain profound information on the performance of learning factories. The findings help to assess the pertinency of European learning factories and provide a trace for their future development.