Generation network

Social media show how networking works in digital times - with far-reaching consequences for the world of work.

Personal Süd illustrates how companies can successfully bring employees of all ages together online and offline. Together with the parallel trade fair Corporate Health Convention, Southern Germany's trade fair for personnel management is moving into the large Hall One of Messe Stuttgart.

Today, people are constantly connected digitally - for example, via social media, apps, or various messengers.

This fosters a new work culture: employees increasingly work and learn in networks. To attract and retain skilled workers, employers must adapt to this development and create new spaces.

This includes not only a corporate culture of networking and encounter, but also the right technology, including training for employees.

Business Innovation 4.0

Prof. Wolfgang Henseler, Professor of Digital Media and Master of Creative Directions at Pforzheim University, whets the appetite for digitization with his keynote lecture:

As founder and managing creative director of Sensory-Minds, a design studio for new media and innovative technologies, he explores the opportunities that digitization holds for companies.

The keynote speakers also include blogger Carolin Desirée Töpfer (blog "Digitalization now!"). The programmer supports specialists and managers from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing digital skills and understanding technologies.

As the initiator of "B2G digital", she brings together start-ups, SMEs and representatives from research, public authorities and politics on the topic of digital transformation.

Refugee integration

The special "Integration Area" with an adjoining lecture stage will show how companies can recruit and qualify refugees as employees.

2.7 million people from more than 180 countries live in the 179 municipalities of the Stuttgart Region! The Welcome Service Region Stuttgart (WSRS) has been in existence since 2014, providing companies with information, initial advice and events to help them recruit and integrate international professionals.

The WSRS serves as a bridge between the companies and the skilled workers. In the past year, the focus has increasingly shifted to working with refugees.

However, the path to qualified work is often longer here, as greater barriers arise than with immigrants from EU countries, such as residence issues or language problems.