In the dynamic world of the chemical industry, sound knowledge is not only crucial for our scientific teams, but also for our commercial employees. We are therefore pleased to present the successful in-house seminar “Chemistry for Business People”, which was recently held at Ursa-Chemie GmbH in cooperation with the GDCh.academy.
A course for all hierarchy levels
Our aim was to create a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry for all employees – from trainees to team and department heads right up to the top management level. Flat hierarchies became clear, because knowledge is a bridge that connects all levels. With the support of the GDCh.academy, we were able to organise a tailor-made seminar that turned this vision into reality.
The contents of the course
The course was divided into two intensive blocks, each lasting two days:
Part 1: Fundamentals of general and inorganic chemistry (13.03. – 15.03.2024)
Here, our “non-chemists” were introduced to the basic concepts of chemistry.
The topics included:
- States of matter: solid, liquid, gaseous – how matter changes its form.
- Elements and connections: The building blocks of nature and their connections.
- Chemical reactions and reaction equations: How substances react with each other and how these reactions are represented.
- Oxidation and reduction: electron transfer that drives many chemical reactions.
Part 2: Fundamentals of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (20.03. – 22.03.2024)
In the second part, specific organic compounds and their reactions were discussed. The topics included:
- Saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatics: Different classes of organic compounds and their properties.
- Reactions of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons: How these compounds react chemically.
- Halogen compounds, organic oxygen and nitrogen compounds: Their structures and reaction patterns.
- Polymers and polymerisation reactions: The formation of plastics and their industrial significance.
Practical learning methods
The seminar days were characterised by intensive training units, which were supplemented by numerous exercises. This enabled the participants to put what they had learnt directly into practice and develop a deeper understanding of the chemical processes that underpin their everyday work. As a result, many everyday issues that arise in the collaboration between commercial and technical departments could be viewed from a new perspective and better understood.
Thanks to our partners
The successful realisation of this project would not have been possible without the active support of our partners from the GDCh.academy. We would like to thank the two lecturers who made an enriching and practical learning experience possible through their presence on site.
Conclusion
The “Chemistry for Business People” seminar showed us how valuable it is to share knowledge across specialist boundaries and thus promote a common understanding. It was an important step towards further strengthening cooperation within Ursa-Chemie GmbH and expanding the expertise of our employees. We look forward to future training and development programmes that will bring our teams even closer together and further enrich our work together.
