ZF and XU sustainable awarded eLearning AWARD 2024 in the "Change Management" category

• Global qualification initiative honored with prestigious award
• Successful establishment of a company-wide learning culture
• “Skills Hub” learning platform allows employees to become active in the transformation processes
• Expectations exceeded: 34,000 employees already trained in “e-mobility” and “digitalization” topics

Friedrichshafen/Berlin. The global technology group ZF and the online education innovator XU sustainable have received the eLearning AWARD 2024 in the category Change Management for their qualification initiative “Skills Hub”. The initiative was jointly developed and successfully implemented to prepare ZF employees for the challenges of future mobility, digitalization and sustainable innovations.

The annual eLearning AWARD is determined by an expert jury of the eLearning Journal. This is the 14th year for this prestigious award. Last year, more than 300 projects were submitted — demonstrating the importance of this award and reflecting the dynamics of the industry. In 2024, ZF’s digital learning platform received the honor in the “Change Management” category.

 

ZF: Project Skills Hub Creates New Learning Culture

The mobility industry is currently experiencing profound changes due to mobility change, digitalization and increased climate protection efforts worldwide. In this rapidly changing landscape, ZF has defined a clear course for future mobility with its Group strategy. To ensure that employees are prepared for these developments, ZF launched Skills Hub, the largest qualification initiative in the company’s history. Of the 165,000 employees worldwide, approximately 90,000 work with a personal computer.

In addition to professional training, ZF’s goal was to ignite passion and innovation within ZF employees. Regardless of position within the organization, there is an element of the mobility transformation that directly affects them and requires their support to build knowledge skills, recognize opportunities and drive innovation.

 

Development of a targeted learning format

XU and ZF developed an easy-to-use learning format with manageable costs, which at the same time provides a clear overview of the numerous fields of knowledge for various topics. These include online courses, a media library and live sessions for further study. With additional tools, such as knowledge checks, the individual level of knowledge of the learners can be queried and analyzed.

Daniela Prinz, Global Head of Learning & Competency Development at ZF: “It is a great pleasure for us to have such a strong partner at our side with XU sustainable, which not only provides a technological solution, but also is able to leverage knowledge in a real way. The network and competent team have implemented a program that is already cheaper and more efficient than a classic change management project. We have established a new learning culture in a very short time, which greatly enriches our company and brings knowledge to the forefront.”

Nicole Gaiziunas, founder and co-CEO of XU sustainable, said: “Targeted qualification programs are the best way to offer employees whose jobs are undergoing profound change as a result of transformation processes such as the powertrain revolution a suitable new future perspective. Everyone should have the chance to be part of the future – that’s why we support companies like ZF in equipping their workforce today with the knowledge and skills for tomorrow’s job profiles. ”

 

E-mobility, digitalization, and sustainability: ZF qualifies employees for the future

Throughout this process, ZF has developed successes that form a strong foundation for excellence. E-mobility was the first topic to be implemented within the ZF qualification measure. After that, the megatrend digitalization was added and extensive course updates in e-mobility were added. In January 2024, ZF launched content with a focus on sustainability.

For performance-oriented monitoring, the Skills Hub project was set up with three main objectives: Within twelve months, 25,000 active users were generated instead of the 20,000 targeted. The completion rate of 73% significantly exceeded the targeted 50%. With 48% booked live sessions, this target of 50% was also narrowly achieved. It is precisely these measurable successes that the jury of the eLearning AWARD recognized and honored for ZF and XU.

 

Outstanding competence development is worthy of a prize

With the eLearning AWARD 2024, ZF Friedrichshafen AG and XU sustainable receive an award for their exemplary initiative to effectively promote professional qualifications, competitiveness and sustainability in the areas of e-mobility and digitalization. In this context, the jury praises a visionary and sustainable content strategy that benefits both ZF and its employees in the long term.

Further information on the case study can be found here: XU sustainable | ZF Case

About ZF

ZF is a globally active technology group and supplies systems for the mobility of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and industrial technology. ZF lets vehicles see, think and act: In the four technology fields of Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving and Electromobility, ZF offers comprehensive product and software solutions for established vehicle manufacturers as well as for emerging providers of transport and mobility services. ZF electrifies vehicles of various categories and contributes with its products to reducing emissions, protecting the climate, and making mobility safer.

In 2022, ZF generated sales of EUR 43.8 billion with around 165,000 employees worldwide. The company is represented at 168 production sites in 32 countries.

Further press information and images can be found at: www.zf.com

About XU sustainable

Founded in 2016, XU Group GmbH as XU sustainable offers a unique package of certified learning content including learning experience platform (LXP) and services around the future competence “sustainability” with its drivers “digitization” and “mobility of the future.” XU sustainable offers further training in the corporate context at practical and university level. The learning content is based on the academic principles of the IU (International University). Regardless of industry affiliation and previous knowledge, XU sustainable offers a wide range of courses on sustainability. XU sustainable itself as well as over 121 hours of courses have been AZAV certified by TÜV Nord since 2020. The courses are eligible through the Federal Employment Agency.

The clients of XU sustainable include Airbus, Baerlocher, Bayer AG, Bosch, Deutsche Bahn, eBay, Greiner, Grohe, HDI, Hugo Boss, IAV, OMV, Otto Group, Porsche, Schaeffler, Schwarz-Lidl, Volkswagen and ZF Friedrichshafen. XU sustainable works together with content and tech partners such as IU (International University), BNW, the PEM Institute, RWTH Aachen, Salesforce, Klett, Avesco and Phineo for the development of current market learning content.

For more information, see www.xu.de