Managing the skilled workers of tomorrow

We are committed to acting as a competent interface between the local economy and the skilled workers of tomorrow.

The looming shortage of skilled workers and deficits in digitization are increasingly becoming a problem for companies that want to position themselves for the future. With our skilled workers team – MGconnect, the foundation of the same name, the Bo-Fit, EFRE-Future Boards and MINT in MIND funding programs, our project skillzUP as well as the zdi Community Mönchengladbach initiative – we are committed to acting as a competent interface between the local economy and the skilled workers of tomorrow. In addition, WFMG is part of Junior Uni Mönchengladbach. The overarching goal behind all of these activities is to ensure the long-term availability of workers and skilled professionals through quality education, career prospects, and talent development.

The focus is primarily on small and medium-sized enterprises. Always in cooperation with partners such as the Employment Agency, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the School and Sports Department of the City of Mönchengladbach and the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, we optimize the relationship between students, teachers and the local economy. We make young people fit for working life at an early stage and enable them to make a targeted choice between studying and training. We match students who are ready for training with companies willing to train them and get them excited – always not from the ivory tower, but in practice – especially about STEM professions and digitization. To this end, we develop innovative formats and courses and provide digital platforms we have developed ourselves. We give students with a desire to study an orientation in the multitude of study offers and show them career prospects in Mönchengladbach after having finished studying.

The idea behind this is as follows: Mönchengladbach is a city that has experienced and thus knows transformation. From its industrial heritage in the textile industry to its current status as a hub of innovation and knowledge, the city has repeatedly reinvented itself—not as a reaction to crisis, but out of a sense of purpose. Structural change here is not a state of emergency, but part of the city’s DNA. And it is precisely from this that a special responsibility—and a great opportunity—arises.

Change succeeds when people are empowered to help shape it. This is where initiatives in early education, STEM promotion, skills development, and career guidance come into play. Together, we see ourselves as providers of opportunities in a city on the rise. We believe that curiosity is the beginning of innovation, that education is the most powerful lever for participation, and that the future takes shape where young people find confidence, space, and networks. In a city that is open, down-to-earth, and community-oriented, we support children and young people

• from their first moments of wonder to making conscious decisions about their future,
• from experimentation to mastery,
• from interest to competence,
• from idea to application.

Because Mönchengladbach invests not only in buildings, technologies, or locations—but in people. The transformation this city is shaping requires young minds, bold questions, and diverse talents. We make change tangible—as a personal opportunity. For every child. For every young person. For the future of this city. We empower young people in Mönchengladbach to see our city’s transformation as their own opportunity—through early education, a vibrant sense of community, and practical skills for the future.

Our guiding principle is clear: All children and young people in Mönchengladbach—regardless of origin, gender, or social background—should discover their talents early on, develop future-oriented skills, and be empowered to shape their educational and career paths with confidence, informed decision-making, and equal opportunities. This goal encompasses:

• early support starting in elementary school,
• building skills for the digital and technological future,
• practical relevance, career guidance, and transition support,
• network-based thinking and collaborative action.

We and our partners, including institutions, educational institutions and small and medium-sized businesses, have been successfully working on the transition from school to work in Mönchengladbach for more than 20 years, thus helping to ensure that companies at the site will continue to be supplied with sufficient young talent in terms of both quality and quantity.

History

In location policy discourse, education occupies a prominent position for companies and families. For this reason, the city administration and the WFMG initiated the MGconnect interface in 2006 to improve relations between students, teachers and the local economy. In order to safeguard their activities in the long term, the stakeholders and Mönchengladbach-based companies set up the non-profit MGconnect foundation in 2010. Since its launch, the foundation has been working on getting young people excited about their future career at an early stage and setting goals for their school performance to help them to choose a university degree course or vocational training.