Interview with Romina Kolb, Director of the Scientific Continuing Education Institute at Hochschule Karlsruhe (HKA), and Charlotte Joumier, Continuing Education Engineering Officer for KTUR² at the Continuing Education Service of the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA).
The Continuing Education work priority aims to strengthen the skills of professionals in the Upper Rhine region, particularly in the health sector and the cross-border industrial field. It promotes cooperation between university continuing-education institutes, economic stakeholders, and institutions from the three countries, in order to identify skills needs and address them through adapted, concrete, cross-border and innovative training programs.
Question 1. Understanding the Needs of Economic Stakeholders
How do you identify the skills needs in the targeted sectors?
Romina Kolb: We are conducting cross-border surveys and interviews with companies and healthcare actors in the Upper Rhine region. Combining quantitative and qualitative insights, we identify emerging skill trends and align regional specificities with a shared transnational strategy for workforce development. The close collaboration between the University of Strasbourg and the University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe allows us to share best practices and develop innovative approaches in continuing education.
Question 2. Building on Regional Stakeholders
What types of partnerships are you establishing to co-develop these training offers?
Charlotte Joumier: We are building strong partnerships with regional universities and employment agencies, to align our continuing education programmes with labour market needs in health and industry across the Upper Rhine. Upcoming collaborations with IHK/CCI and innovation agencies will boost visibility, connect us directly with companies, and ensure practical training offers rooted in regional realities and sustainable continuing education.
Question 3. Designing Relevant Cross-Border Training
What will the continuing education programs developed in the project look like?
Romina Kolb: The design of the continuing education programmes is currently in the preparatory phase. Based on the results of our needs assessment, we will focus on key topics tailored to regional priorities. We also take cultural, linguistic, and regulatory differences between Germany, Switzerland and France into account. With regard to formats, we are pursuing a flexible approach. Combining in-person and online formats, these programmes will foster collaboration, accessibility, and innovation across borders.
Question 4. Organizing Pilot Training Sessions
When and how will the first cross-border training sessions be launched?
Charlotte Joumier: The first cross-border pilot runs of the continuing education programmes will be planned in spring 2026 after the needs analyses have been evaluated. The first training courses are scheduled to start in November 2026.
Question 5. Towards a Sustainable and Structured Offering
How do you plan to ensure the sustainability of this dynamic after the project ends?
Romina Kolb: To ensure lasting impact, we aim to create an alliance for cross-border continuing education in the Upper Rhine region. This network is intended to connect continuing education institutes and maintain long-term contact with companies and other regional partners. This close collaboration should ensure that the continuing education programmes not only close short-term skill gaps, but also contribute to securing skilled labour and competitiveness in the Upper Rhine region in the long term.