CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE FOR FUTURE-PROOF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: INSIGHTS INTO THE DIGITAL LIFECYCLE LAB
Schalk, Gerolf Alfred; Bitzer, Michael; Hick, Hannes
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Institute of Machine Components and Methods of Development, Graz University of Technology, Austria; Science, Academics & Transfer, Siemens Industry Software GmbH
Page(s):
125 - 130
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
Rapid technological change, digital transformation, and labor shortages are reshaping the requirements placed on the engineering workforce, increasing the need for interdisciplinary and systems engineering competencies. The Digital Lifecycle Lab (DLL) implemented at a higher educational institution addresses these needs as an educational concept supporting engineering transformation through student training and the upskilling and reskilling of industry professionals. However, effective workforce initiatives also require systematic academia-industry knowledge transfer interfaces to develop future-proof qualifications. Building on prior research presented at international conferences, this study develops strategies to advance the engineering workforce while fostering diversity across educational formats, backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages. It examines how global trends shape workforce orientation and identifies critical future skills. As a key characteristic, the DLL integrates modeling and representation of lifecycle-spanning system phases, enabling learners to recognize interdependencies between disciplines and their contribution to holistic system creation. Moreover, the DLL’s structure enables comprehensive system understanding and empowers learners from both academia and industry to identify and apply Artificial Intelligence solutions across development stages. By aligning educational content with technological demands and workforce trends, the DLL provides transferable solutions to close skill gaps and enhance inclusion, positioning itself as a model for building a resilient, future-ready engineering workforce.
Keywords:
