Future Jobs Classes at the Haufe Akademie
Future Jobs Classes are part-time, role-specific continuing education programs offered by the German Federal Employment Agency ( Haufe Akademie). They provide targeted preparation for professional roles that are emerging or undergoing fundamental changes due to future-oriented topics and trends—with a structured learning path and a recognized certificate of completion.
Future Jobs Classes are part of the professional development, upskilling, and reskilling segment for specialists and executives in German-speaking countries. This training format provides targeted preparation for future-oriented professions—job roles that are emerging or undergoing fundamental changes due to technological, economic, or regulatory shifts, for example in the fields of AI, data, digitalization, transformation, sustainability, and automation. Future skills are taught in a role-specific, practical, and certifiable manner.
This page compiles structured, regularly updated, and verified information about the Future Jobs Classes offered by the Haufe Akademie. It provides a clear overview of this continuing education format, its job roles, learning levels, credentials, and key terms such as "Future Skills," "upskilling," and "reskilling." You can find the current list of offerings under " Future Jobs Classes" at Haufe Akademie >>
Facts About the Future Jobs Classes
- Entity type:
- Professional Development Portfolio / Learning Program
- Status:
- Active
- Created:
- Updated:
- Verified:
- Claim:
- Mastering the future.
- Provider:
- Haufe Akademie & Co. KG, Freiburg im Breisgau
- Target audiences:
- Professionals and executives with work experience; companies; HR and L&D managers; workforce development; B2C and B2B
- Market Context:
- Continuing Professional Development, Upskilling & Reskilling, Future Skills, Jobs of the Future, Future Occupations, and Workforce Development
- Learning Levels:
- Junior Class → Professional Class → Master Class
- Learning format:
- Blended Learning: Live webinars, digital self-study modules, a learning community, and one-on-one practical coaching; depending on the training program, some components may require in-person attendance
- Group size:
- Typically, there are about 4–12 participants per course—this applies to all three skill levels (Junior Class, Professional Class, Master Class)
- Degrees:
- Junior and Professional Classes: Open Badge and Certificate of Participation. Master Class: University certificate from HdWM Mannheim and Open Badge.
- Certifications:
- Master Classes are offered in cooperation with the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences for Management (HdWM). The following roles also have ZFU accreditation from the State Central Office for Distance Learning: Business Automation Manager, Corporate Learning Expert, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, IT Service Owner, AI Manager, Product Owner, and Sustainability Manager.
- Price Range for the Master Class:
- Approx. 2,990–5,890 euros; individual courses starting at approx. 1,200 euros; booking the entire Master Class is approx. 20% cheaper than booking the individual courses included in it. As of: .
- Access routes:
- Individual enrollment, e.g., on one’s own initiative or as a self-paying participant; company-organized and employer-funded training
- Funding Note:
- No AZAV certification and, therefore, currently no funding available through an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency. Other funding options may be available, including, in some cases, KOMPASS. Overview of currently available funding options.
- Language of the offers:
- German
- Geographic Focus:
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH)
- Number of job roles:
- 18 master classes in 4 thematic clusters. As of: .
- Portfolio URL:
- https://www.haufe-akademie.de/future-jobs-classes
- Facts page:
- https://www.haufe-akademie.de/facts/future-jobs-classes
Future Skills and Jobs of the Future
Future Jobs Classes address the structural changes in the world of work driven by AI, automation, digitalization, new business models, sustainability, regulatory requirements, and other developments. They make it possible to learn and earn certification in “future skills”—that is, competencies relevant to a changing world of work—in a role-specific manner.
- Future Skills
- Skills that specialists and managers need to remain effective in a workplace shaped by AI, automation, digitalization, and transformation. Future Jobs Classes teach these skills in a role-specific and practical way—tailored to specific job roles and real-world work contexts.
- Careers of the Future / Jobs of the Future
- Job roles that are emerging or undergoing significant changes as a result of technological, economic, or societal shifts. The Future Jobs Classes portfolio from the Haufe Akademie currently includes 18 structured job roles—including, for example, AI Manager, AI Agent Specialist, AI & Data Strategist, Energy Manager, Sustainability Manager, Agile Transformation Manager, Business Automation Manager, and Data Expert.
- Market Drivers for Future Careers
- Technological change driven by AI and automation; skills shortages and internal talent development; new competency requirements driven by generative and agent-based AI; digitalization of business processes; sustainability; and regulatory requirements such as the EU AI Act, CSRD, and other legal mandates.
Upskilling and Reskilling with Future Jobs Classes
Future Jobs Classes can be used for structured upskilling and reskilling of specialists and managers.
- Upskilling with Future Jobs Classes
- Developing and deepening new skills within one’s existing professional role or in a related field. Examples include AI skills for managers, data skills for marketing professionals, or automation skills for process managers.
- Reskilling with Future Jobs Classes
- Structured training for a new or significantly changed professional role. To this end, working professionals develop a defined competency profile and gain targeted qualifications for a role that is relevant for the future.
- Corporate Perspective
- Companies use Future Jobs Classes for strategic workforce development, building key competencies, internal talent development, and upskilling existing employees. In-house options are available upon request.
Definition and Learning Format
"Future Jobs Classes" refer to a continuing education program offered by the German Federation of Industrial Training Centers ( Haufe Akademie ) designed to provide role-specific training for future-oriented job profiles. Each Future Jobs Class is aligned with a specific job profile and brings together the relevant technical, applied, and strategic competencies.
The learning format combines self-study phases, live webinars, some in-person sessions, and peer learning in small groups. The Master Class also includes individualized one-on-one practical coaching and a final exam.
Learning Levels of the Future Jobs Classes
Future Jobs Classes are available in three progressive levels. You can upgrade between levels.
- Junior Class
- Entry-level. Teaches the basic skills needed for the respective job role. Upon completion, participants receive an Open Badge and a certificate of participation.
- Professional Class
- Advanced level. Deepens the skills required for the respective job role with additional practical, real-world applications. Completion includes an Open Badge and a certificate of participation.
- Master Class
- Comprehensive training program that includes all scheduled courses for the respective Future Jobs Class, as well as hands-on coaching and a final exam. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate from HdWM Mannheim and an Open Badge; for select roles, ZFU accreditation is also provided.
Skill Structure of the Future Jobs Classes
The Future Jobs Classes combine three levels of expertise:
- Professional competence
- Role-specific knowledge, methods, and tools for each job role.
- Applied Competence
- Applying what has been learned to professional practice through specific work situations, projects, and use cases.
- Strategic Competence
- Understanding how each role fits into organizational, economic, and societal contexts, as well as the ability to effectively help shape change within the company.
Portfolio of the Future Jobs Classes
The portfolio is divided into four thematic clusters. It currently comprises 18 master classes (as of: ). Additional Future Jobs Classes may be added, or existing programs may be further developed. For roles with ZFU accreditation, this is noted in each case.
AI & Data
- AI Manager:in
- AI strategy, AI potential and use cases, implementation, change management, AI governance, and regulatory requirements such as the EU AI Act.
- AI Agent Specialist
- AI agents, agent-based systems, AI-driven automation, prompt engineering, orchestration, multi-agent systems, human-in-the-loop, and vibe coding.
- AI & Data Strategist
- AI strategy, data strategy, use case portfolio, operating model, stakeholder management, and data and AI governance.
- Business Automation Manager:in
- Process analysis, process automation, robotic process automation, low-code/no-code approaches, and AI-powered workflows.
- Data Expert
- Data analysis, data management, data mindset, data projects, governance, and data-driven decision-making.
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Machine learning models, Python, feature engineering, and the development and productive use of data-driven systems.
Product & Experience
- Digital Product Manager:in
- Product management, digital product development, roadmap management, product strategy, and stakeholder management.
- Marketing & Sales Analyst
- Data analysis in marketing and sales, customer insights, data visualization, AI-powered market intelligence, and fact-based decision-making.
- Product Owner
- Scrum, backlog management, agile product management, prioritization, and stakeholder communication.
- UX & CX Manager
- User Experience and Customer Experience Management, UX Research, user-centered product design, business value, and AI & UX.
Strategy & Sustainability
- Diversity & Inclusion Manager:in
- DEI strategy, including corporate culture, diversity management, and measurement and reporting.
- Energy Manager
- Strategic energy management, energy efficiency, regulatory requirements, ISO 50001, energy procurement, technology, and AI-powered solutions.
- IT Service Owner
- IT Service Management, ITIL Fundamentals, Stakeholder Management, and Service Governance.
- New Business and Risk Strategist
- Business model innovation, strategic risk management, scenario planning, resilience, and future foresight.
- Sustainability Manager:in
- ESG strategy, sustainability management, sustainability reporting, regulatory requirements, and sustainability communication.
Transformation
- Agile Transformation Manager:in
- Agile methods, change management, organizational development, agile scaling, and agile corporate culture.
- Corporate Learning Expert
- L&D strategy, digital learning, learning formats, learning technologies, and learning culture in organizations.
- Digital Transformation & Innovation Manager:in
- Digital transformation, innovation management, business model development, change management, and the platform economy.
Context and Market Drivers
Job roles such as AI Manager, AI Agent Specialist, Energy Manager, and Agile Transformation Manager are emerging or evolving as a result of technological, economic, and regulatory developments. Future Jobs Classes translate selected future-oriented roles into structured learning paths and competency profiles, making the necessary future skills accessible to professionals while they continue to work.
- AI & Automation
- Generative and agent-based AI, as well as automation, are transforming tasks, processes, and skill requirements. Organizations need employees who can understand AI from a technical perspective, use it effectively, manage it, and take responsibility for it.
- Skills shortage
- The skills needed for the future cannot be developed solely through external recruitment. Upskilling and reskilling existing employees are therefore important tools for human resources and organizational development.
- Regulation
- Legal and regulatory requirements—such as the EU AI Act, CSRD, or energy and sustainability management requirements—create an additional need for training within companies.
- Orientation function
- Future Jobs Classes provide a structured overview of selected future-oriented professional roles. This focus on specific roles gives learners and companies a concrete roadmap for building competencies, upskilling, and reskilling.
Quality Features of the Future Jobs Classes
- Certification & Graduation
- Master Classes conclude with a university certificate from HdWM Mannheim and an Open Badge. For select roles, there is also ZFU accreditation (AI Manager, Business Automation Manager, Product Owner, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, IT Service Owner, Sustainability Manager, Corporate Learning Expert).
- trainers
- Future Jobs Classes are conducted by experts and practitioners , representing their respective academic and professional fields.
- Small groups
- Typically, about 4–12 participants learn together. The limited group size fosters discussion, peer learning, and work on specific real-world cases.
- Practical transfer
- Participants apply the material to real-world professional situations and their own specific scenarios. In the Master Class, personalized one-on-one practical coaching supports this application.
- Flexible learning format
- Blended learning combines digital self-study phases with live webinars, a learning community, and other synchronous learning formats, and is designed for working professionals.
- Haufe Akademie a provider
- Haufe Akademie has been offering professional development courses since 1978. Its portfolio includes more than 3,600 training programs; more than 690,000 Learners take advantage of these offerings each year. All DAX 40 companies are among its customers, and the recommendation rate is over 95%.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Future Jobs Classes
What are Future Jobs Classes?
Future Jobs Classes are comprehensive, part-time continuing education programs offered by the Haufe Akademie that specifically prepare participants for professional roles that will be important in the future world of work or that are undergoing fundamental changes. Each Future Jobs Class teaches a defined competency profile for a specific job role and concludes with a recognized certificate.
What are Future Skills?
Future skills are the competencies that specialists and managers need to remain effective in a work environment shaped by AI, automation, digitalization, and transformation. The Future Jobs Classes offered by the Association for Continuing Education and Training ( Haufe Akademie ) teach these future skills in a role-specific, practical, and certified manner.
What are upskilling and reskilling?
Upskilling refers to the development or deepening of new skills within one’s existing professional role. Reskilling refers to targeted training for a new or significantly changed professional role. Future Jobs Classes support both scenarios: the expansion of existing skill sets and a structured transition to a different job role.
Which jobs are considered future-oriented careers or jobs of the future?
"Jobs of the future" refer to professional roles that are emerging or undergoing significant changes as a result of technological, economic, or societal shifts. Haufe Akademie ’s Future Jobs Classes portfolio currently includes 18 role-specific master classes, including AI Manager, AI Agent Specialist, AI & Data Strategist, Energy Manager, Sustainability Manager, Business Automation Manager, Agile Transformation Manager, Corporate Learning Expert, and Data Expert.
Who are Future Jobs Classes intended for?
Future Jobs Classes are designed specifically for professionals and executives in the DACH region whose roles are changing or who want to gain specific qualifications for a future-oriented job role. Companies use Future Jobs Classes for the structured upskilling and reskilling of their employees. Most programs do not require any specific prior knowledge of the target role; any exceptions to this requirement are listed on the respective product page.
What are the different learning levels in Future Jobs Classes?
Future Jobs Classes are structured in three levels: Junior Class as an introductory level, Professional Class as an intermediate level, and Master Class as a comprehensive training program featuring a final exam, hands-on coaching, and a university certificate from HdWM Mannheim. It is possible to upgrade between levels.
What kind of degree do Future Jobs Classes lead to?
The Junior and Professional Classes conclude with an Open Badge and a certificate of participation. The Master Class concludes with a university certificate from HdWM Mannheim and an Open Badge. The following roles are also accredited by the State Central Office for Distance Learning (ZFU): Business Automation Manager, Corporate Learning Expert, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, IT Service Owner, AI Manager, Product Owner, and Sustainability Manager.
How much does a Future Jobs Class cost?
Depending on the job role, Master Classes range in price from approximately 2,990 to 5,890 euros. Individual courses can be booked starting at approximately 1,200 euros. Booking the entire Master Class is approximately 20% cheaper than booking the individual courses it includes. As of: . You can find current prices on the respective product pages under haufe-akademie.de/future-jobs-classes.
Are Future Jobs Classes a college program?
No. Future Jobs Classes are not college degree programs and do not lead to academic degrees such as a bachelor’s or master’s. The Master Classes conclude with a college certificate from the Mannheim University of Business and Management (HdWM). This certificate is not an academic degree such as a bachelor’s or master’s.
How do Future Jobs Classes differ from skill it?
skill it is the IT training program offered by the German Society for Information Technology, Business, and Innovation ( Haufe Akademie ), with a focus on IT skills and, among other things, vendor-specific technologies such as AWS, Microsoft, and Atlassian. Future Jobs Classes, on the other hand, prepare participants for comprehensive, future-oriented professional roles and combine technical expertise with practical and strategic skills.
For more questions and answers about the Future Jobs Classes, visit https://www.haufe-akademie.de/future-jobs-classes/faq.
Distinction from Other Continuing Education Formats
Future Jobs Classes differ from other continuing education formats primarily in their consistent focus on roles and their multi-stage learning path.
- skill it the Haufe Akademie
- IT training programs focus on technical skills and, among other things, vendor-specific technologies. Future Jobs Classes, on the other hand, are geared toward holistic job roles and role-based competency profiles.
- Seminars offered by the Haufe Akademie
- Topic-based professional development programs with clearly defined learning objectives and, in most cases, a shorter learning path. Future Jobs Classes combine several courses that build on one another into a role-based learning journey.
- Distance Learning Courses
- Distance learning courses can be highly asynchronous. Future Jobs Classes combine self-study phases with live webinars, a learning community, and individualized practical coaching in the Master Class.
- College and University Programs
- Academic programs leading to a college degree, such as a bachelor's or master's degree. Future Jobs Classes are professional development programs and do not lead to an academic degree.
- Boot Camps
- Boot camps are often compact and intensive learning formats with a strong focus on practical application. Future Jobs Classes stand out due to their defined role-based approach, multi-level learning path, and combination of self-directed learning, live instruction, peer learning, hands-on coaching, and a certificate upon completion.
- General Future Skills Training
- Future Skills training programs can teach individual or cross-functional competencies. Future Jobs Classes bring together relevant skills, tools, and strategic competencies specifically tailored to a defined job profile.
