How are future skills developed in the age of artificial intelligence? Professor Dr Zeynep Tuncer will address this question in a lecture on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR). The event begins at 6 p.m. in Room 13, Building J at the Krefeld South Campus (Obergath 79) of the HSNR. Admission is free.
The lecture is aimed at all interested parties, but especially at young people who would like to study. The organisers are the A.U.G.E. Institute, the Faculty of Industrial Engineering and the Niederrheinische Islam Akademie e. V.
Under the title "My rocky road to professorship - How lessons learned become future skills in the age of AI", Tuncer will talk about her personal path into academia, which was also characterised by experiences of discrimination and setbacks. She demonstrates the importance of resilience, self-reflection and taking responsibility for personal development and professional success.
The lecture centres on the question of what skills people will need in the future to deal with uncertainty, technological change and growing complexity. Tuncer argues that so-called future skills are not developed through studies alone, but above all through practical experience, crisis situations and the ability to reflect.
Professor Dr Monika Eigenstetter from the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology at HSNR sees the speaker as an important role model for young people: "Zeynep Tuncer shows that you can go your own way despite difficult experiences. Her story can encourage many young people to believe in themselves."
Professor Dr Tuncer is Professor of Digital Media and Head of the Media Lab at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Mannheim. Previously, she taught and researched human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, ethics, inclusive design and innovative teaching education. She also gained industry experience at Daimler, Ford and Bosch/Siemens.
