Aligning Academic Curriculum with the Needs of Facility Management Industry - An Analysis

Background and aim.
Due to a shortage of skilled labor, facility management (FM) is adopting new technologies such as sensor
technologies, building information modeling, Virtual Reality, or Artificial Intelligence.  Against  the  backdrop  of  a  shortage  of  skilled  labor  in  FM,  the  integration  of  new technologies  creates  new  professional  domains  and  presents  fresh  challenges  for  skil led  personnel. Qualified  personnel  are  essential  to  meet  the  expectations  of  future  workforce  demands.  This contribution aims to investigate whether the curriculum contents of German universities align with the needs of the future job market.

Methods.
This study is grounded in a 2023 examination of FM labor market requirements. German universities'  curricula  and  teaching  methods  are  scrutinized  to  align  with  the  content  and  methods assessment. The labor market and curriculum analysis outcomes are then juxtaposed in a matrix. Based on this comparison, the final step involves formulating recommendations for adapting curricula and module handbooks to better align with the identified needs of the FM job market.

Results.
The paper presents an overview of actual curricula and the alignment/gaps with FM industry demands. Recommendations concerning the adjustment of curricula are given on new technologies in education to integrate knowledge required in the future job market into teaching.

Practical or social implications.
The dynamic development of using new technologies in FM emphasizes the need for academic curricula to adapt and align with the industry's evolving demands. This approach offers  a  holistic  understanding  of  challenges  and  opportunities  at  the  FM  sector's  intersection  of technology, education, and workforce dynamics.