Learning and Development

• Life-long learning concept
• Focus on virtual learning and digitalization

Learning and development are essential success factors for a strong company culture. The skills and competencies of our employees are critical for profitable growth and lasting success. For this reason, we want to further modernize our learning culture and step up our efforts to promote lifelong, self-directed learning. Employee development at BASF is guided by the belief that talent is in everyone. This means that development opportunities and support are open to all employees. In our understanding, there is more to development than a promotion or a job change – it encompasses the development of personal experience and abilities.

In regular development meetings, which are held as part of our annual employee dialogs, employees outline prospects for their individual development together with their leaders and determine specific measures for further training and development, which focus on personal and professional competencies. Our learning activities follow the “70-20-10” philosophy: We apply the elements “learning from experience” (70%), “learning from others” (20%) and “learning through courses and media” (10%). Our learning and development offerings cover a range of learning goals: Starting a career, expanding knowledge, personal growth and leadership development. Virtual learning is playing an increasingly important role here.

We held our first ever global virtual “Go Digital!” week in 2018, for example. This gave employees around the world the chance to find out about different digitalization topics via online events. BASF employees and representatives from other companies provided insights into their digital projects.

In addition, more and more academies in the divisions and functional units, which teach specific professional content, offer virtual training. We have offered “virtual presence” training since 2018, which gives all employees the opportunity to attend professional development courses via digital communication channels such as virtual meetings. In 2018, we introduced a global website with an accompanying learning app to enable employees around the world to find out about the digital workplace of the future and independently prepare for the digital transformation. Employees can use the app to learn about things like digital jargon and technologies, and acquaint themselves with new working and leadership models.