Could you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your professional background?

As an education manager, I approach new tasks and challenges with enthusiasm and high motivation. For over two decades, I have been successfully responsible for corporate education management in the healthcare sector. Since 2014, I have been actively involved in securing skilled professionals at the Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg. My strength lies in crafting solutions that transform organisations into forward-thinking educational institutions.

My creativity and innovative spirit keep me and my team motivated. In 2022, this commitment was recognised with the Saarland Economic Education Award. I am passionate about working with people: I am a certified change manager, business facilitator, organisational developer, business model developer and trainer. As a certified expert in education management with a focus on financial management, I also have a keen interest in numbers and KPIs.

As an author and speaker at national and international conferences, I talk about all aspects of education management, controlling, new work, leadership and social media in healthcare. I can speak the language of business, but also avoid it when necessary. In my voluntary work, I am chairman of the board of the Association of Nursing Schools in Saarland and a member of the Joint Committee for Nursing Education in Saarland. My preparation for all this includes studies at the Universities of Trier and Oldenburg, My preparation for all this includes studies in the humanities and education, with a Master's degree from the Universities of Trier and Oldenburg, corporate communications at Volkswagen AG, a postgraduate traineeship in the archives and information products department of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung GmbH, and experience as an information specialist at the Potsdam Institute for Information and Documentation (IID). My grounding came from working as a production worker during summer jobs at a bottling plant and a shipyard between 1986 and 1992. I work in Saarland and live in the picturesque Southwest Palatinate. In my spare time you'll probably find me exploring the Pfälzerwald or the Vosges, or tending to my garden.

What motivated you to join the EPALE community?

I was motivated to join the EPALE community because I believe in the transformative power of education, especially adult education. EPALE provides a unique platform to connect with like-minded professionals across Europe, share best practice and stay informed about the latest trends and innovations in the field. As someone deeply involved in educational management and development, I see EPALE as an invaluable resource to enhance my work and contribute to the wider community of adult educators.

What features or resources on EPALE have you found most valuable so far?

I find the podcasts on EPALE particularly fantastic, especially as an auditory learner who enjoys being out in the fresh air. They allow me to stay informed about current topics and trends in adult education while I'm on the move. The variety of subjects and the expertise of the speakers make these podcasts an invaluable resource, providing both inspiration and practical insights that I can directly apply to my work.

What do you expect from EPALE in the future?

In the future, I expect to be more actively involved in EPALE's project partnership search. I am particularly interested in exchanging ideas and creating networking opportunities with individuals or organisations through the EPALE partner search tool. In particular, I am interested in projects that explore how Future Work Skills can be integrated into vocational education and training for healthcare professions such as nursing, physiotherapy and dietetics.

What message would you like to share with the EPALE community?

Corporate culture is the true guiding force of any organisation. I firmly believe that education is personal development and organisational development. Education is the key to holistic organisational growth and serves as the central lever for organisational development and transformational management.