Especially for jobseekers and people at risk of unemployment

Attractive online courses in future-oriented sectors with excellent job prospects. 100% subsidized with a Bildungsgutschein

UX Design - Product Management - Digital Marketing -  Data & KI

Are you registered as a jobseeker or at risk of unemployment and looking for your dream job? With our subsidized training courses, all doors to future-proof industries are open to you. Apply now for your Bildungsgutschein from the Arbeitsagentur or Job Center and get started.

XDi_Community_Bewertungen_Weiterbildung_Bildungsgutschein_Circles

Join our community of 10K graduates

Accredited institution according to AZAV

Certqua_AZAV_Weiterbildungs_Kurse_Online_Flexibel

How you benefit from XDi e-learning courses

100% funding with Bildungsgutschein

With the Bildungsgutschein, your training is fully financed by the Arbeitsagentur or job center

Personal Mentoring

Your own mentor accompanies you through the self-study and your project up to certification

Flexible learning times

Our courses are 100% online and flexible in terms of time. You are free to decide when, how and where you learn

Career Services

You benefit from free job application training, career consultation hours and our job placement service - even after the course is over.

Internationally recognized certificate

With the XDi certificate on your CV, you have better career opportunities and earning potential.

Who are our training courses for?

Are you registered as a jobseeker in Germany or at risk of unemployment? Then you can take part in our training courses 100% free of charge with a Bildungsgutschein of the Arbeitsagentur and the Jobcenter.

Circle_Blue_job

Jobseekers who are registered at the Arbeitsagentur or Jobcenter

Circle_Blue_Hoursglass

Employees who are at risk of unemployment

Circle_Blue_Connection

Career starters & career changers who want to start or re-enter working life

Circle_Blue_Company

People who want to work in the tech, digital and creative industries

Circle_Blue_Presentation

People who see their professional future in the fields of design, marketing, media, business, management, data and IT

Our topics at the heart of digital transformation

Discover our wide range of topics. Become a digital champion with us. Choose one of our future-oriented topics and take your next development step with our training courses.

Design

Users come first. Designing and prioritizing the user experience is a key factor in developing successful products and services that resonate with audiences and meet their evolving needs.

Find out more

Marketing

Drumming up business is part of the game. Effective digital marketing is essential for the success of companies and the promotion of products and services.

Find out more

Business

Successful businesses require strong management. Effective management is the foundation of every company achievement, product development, and project.

Find out more

Data

Data is the gold of the digital age. Understanding how to effectively harness and leverage this invaluable asset is crucial for the success of every business.

Find out more
Insecurity. Future worries. Existential fears.

Are you looking for your place in the professional world?

Do you know the feeling? Are you looking for a job and don't yet know what the future has in store for you? Are you losing sight of your own strengths, goals and opportunities? Training at XDi gives you the opportunity to reorient yourself, develop your skills and take control of your professional future.

Illustration_blau_hindernisse
Obstacles for career changers

You are considering a new career. But you are wondering whether the job market prospects are good for career changers.

Illustrationen_Doodles_Automatisierung
Automation and digitalization

Automation, digitalization and AI are eliminating "simple" office jobs, so you have to obtain higher qualifications and develop special skills.

Illustration_blau_keine qualifizierung
Lack of qualifications

You are not sure whether your qualifications are sufficient to achieve your professional goals and which training will really offer you career opportunities.

Illustration_blau_unsichere zukunft
Uncertain future

You are unsure about your own career and have difficulty making decisions and appearing confident in the job market.

Illustration_Gut-ausgebildete-Mitarbeiter-sind-gefragt
Skilled labor shortage in future industries

There is an acute shortage of skilled workers, but only in the specialized areas of growth sectors such as the digital, IT and creative industries.

What you can expect from further training with the XDi

There are good reasons to train with the XDi. Here are some of them.

Better jobs and higher salaries
Modern, future-proof companies as employers
Better working conditions and opportunities for advancement
Flexible working hours and home office

Why should you do the training specifically at XDi?

You learn at your own pace, on your own schedule. You design your learning journey and progress at a pace that fits your lifestyle.

Start your very own learning journey

A flexible and rewarding learning experience

Learn anytime, anywhere

Use the self-study materials and learn anytime, anywhere and at your own pace

Personal mentoring via video conference

Book an appointment at any time with your mentor, who will accompany you on your learning and career path and provide you with personal support

Job-ready practice in real projects

Our courses are based on practical, industry-specific scenarios and teach practical skills that can be applied directly in professional life.

Unlimited access to multimedia content

You benefit from interactive content at university level. You can expect comprehensive articles, videos, quizzes and practical exercises that bring theory to life.

Interactive live sessions with industry experts

Take part in interactive live workshops with industry experts to dynamically review and deepen the learning content covered.

Career services for your new job

We help you on the way to your new job with application training, career consultation hours and our active job placement service.

These companies are training their workforce with us and recruiting our students.

Developed by industry experts and tailored to market requirements

Our 100% funded online training courses with a Bildungsgutschein

Icon_Bullet_Checkmark_Circle_Aproved

Bildungsgutschein

Icon_Bullet_Checkmark_Circle_Aproved

Guided E–Learning

Icon_Bullet_Checkmark_Circle_Aproved

Flexible study times

Icon_Bullet_Checkmark_Circle_Aproved

Job-Ready Practice

Icon_Bullet_Checkmark_Circle_Aproved

Mentoring

Inhalt
  • User Experience & Usability Basics
  • Research, Analysis & Testing
  • Strategy, Requirements & Planning
  • Information Architecture, Content Structure & Processes
  • Information Design & Interaction Design
  • User Interface Design & Visual Design
  • Product Launch
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Design

Certified User Experience Designer

User Experience Design for Web, Mobile & Software - Guided E...
3,5+ Months
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • Product & Project Management Basics
  • Scrum, Kanban, Lean Startup & OKRs
  • User, Product and Market Analyses
  • Business Model & Financials
  • Requirement engineering and agile effort estimation
  • Design Thinking & User Experience Design
  • Product Life Cycle Management & Stakeholder Communication
  • Product Strategy & Product Roadmap
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Business

Certified Product & Project Manager

Agile Product Management and Project Management for the Digi...
4+ Months
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • Digital Marketing Basics
  • Brand Communication, Branding & PR
  • Social Media Marketing & Advertising
  • Content Marketing & SEO
  • Search Engine Marketing (SEM) via Paid Search (SEA)
  • E-Mail & Mobile Marketing
  • Customer Decision & Augmented User Experience
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Marketing

Certified Digital Marketing Manager

Design, plan and implement digital marketing strategies - Gu...
3,5+ Months
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • Welcome to the World of Data Analysis and Data Analytics
  • Databases and Database Management Systems: MySQL and SQL
  • From Zero to Hero with MS Excel
  • Basic Statistics for Data Analysis
  • Data Analysis with Python: From Zero to Pandas
  • Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Storytelling and Visualization: 10 Hands-on Use Cases
  • Dashboarding and Reporting with Power BI
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Business, Data

Certified Data Analyst

Data analytics, databases, data storytelling and visualizati...
3,5+ Months
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • User Experience Basics
  • Generative research
  • Evaluative research
  • Market analysis and product strategy
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Business, Design

User Research, Product and Market Analysis

User Experience Design & User Research - Guided E-Learning B...
4+ Weeks
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • User Experience Basics
  • Information Architecture
  • Intuitive Interaction Design
  • Responsive Design
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Design

Information Architecture, Information Design & Interaction Design

Design & Information Management - Guided E-Learning Bootcamp...
4+ Weeks
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein
Inhalt
  • User Experience Basics
  • Basics of UI Design
  • Fundamentals of Visual Identity
  • Introduction to Design Systems
Leistungen
Certificate Mentoring Articles Videos Quizzes Projects Career Services Job Placement Live Trainings FAQ Sessions Coffee Talks Community
Bildungsgutschein
Design

User Interface Design & Visual Design

Design of user interfaces - Guided E-Learning Bootcamp with ...
4+ Weeks
E-Learning Bootcamp
Bildungs- gutschein

Courses with a Bildungsgutschein from the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter

This course can be financed 100% with a Bildungsgutschein!

If you are registered as an unemployed person in Germany or are about to be unemployed, you can apply for a Bildungsgutschein from the Arbeitsagentur or Jobcenter. Talk to your local employment office to find out whether you are entitled to a Bildungsgutschein. If you meet the requirements, you will receive a Bildungsgutschein that entitles you to take part in this XDi training course free of charge.

Jobcenter
What benefits do you get during your training?

Your advantages - our highlights

Current, industry-validated content
Empathetic trainers with lots of experience
Contemporary, exciting learning methods
High learning curve and quick successes
Good job prospects and high salary
Active, practice-oriented learning
Exclusive community for exchange
Internationally recognized certificate
Satistisfaction_Guarantee_Stamp

Satisfaction Guarantee

Play it safe

No risks. You can test our training courses for up to 14 days after they start. If you find that the course does not meet your requirements, you can cancel your participation at no additional cost.

Satistisfaction_Guarantee_Stamp

Satisfaction Guarantee

Play it safe

No risks. You can test our training courses for up to 14 days after they start. If you find that the course does not meet your requirements, you can cancel your participation at no additional cost.

We have helped many enthusiastic people to develop professionally

Thousands of eager learners have successfully completed their training with us – see how we can help you to!

"I took part in the Certified Product & Project Manager course and am delighted with the online course! The content was extremely practical and the combination of videos, texts and practice-oriented tasks was ideal for directly applying what I had learned. I particularly appreciated the personal mentoring, which not only provided support but also in-depth feedback that helped me to deepen my knowledge. I was able to take away a lot for my professional future and really appreciate the direct practical relevance. A strong recommendation!"
Simone Fehrenbach
"The training "Certified Data Analyst" was a crucial success factor - I raised my knowledge to a new level in a very short time. The dynamic and focused pace was just right to keep me fully challenged and consistently engaged with the topics. The practice-oriented strategies were particularly valuable, delivering results that could be implemented immediately. The well thought-out questions and ground-breaking impulses not only broadened my thinking, but also highlighted clear areas of action for future success. For me, further training is not a question of if - but when, in order to continue to grow strategically."
Andreas Manietta
"I really enjoyed the training in UI & Visual Design as I learned a lot of new skills. The combination of articles, videos, quizzes, practical tasks and mentoring sessions is a great way to acquire new knowledge. I enjoyed the training a lot, even though it was sometimes challenging to complete the tasks. I would definitely recommend the course to others as I gained a lot of applicable skills in just two months."
Maria Tarasow
User Interface Design & Visual Design
"I am glad I decided to take the "Certified Data Scientist" course. The course has provided a tremendous amount of up-to-date knowledge, and has far exceeded my personal expectations. The course is without question challenging, but quickly rewards with a steep and presentable learning curve. I felt optimally supported by XDi at all times."
Denis Sarcevic
"Thanks to XDi, I was able to familiarize myself with the topic of Agile Leadership and I am glad that I chose the Certified Product & Project Manager training. The curriculum is well-balanced, doesn't overwhelm you and is fun to learn. The supplementary mentoring rounds it all off with lots of tips from the field.  That was my personal highlight. Anyone who wants to reorient themselves and is interested in the topic of new work is in good hands here."
Rainer Düring
"I am thrilled with the Certified Digital Marketing Manager training! It was not only fun, but also provided an enormous gain in knowledge. The content was perfectly coordinated and motivated me to deepen my understanding and skills in this area. In addition, my mentor was always there to help me with any questions or uncertainties."
Hannah Reiss
"Super structured! The course of "Certified User Experience Designer" enabled me to go through the advanced training with maximum flexibility. The Figma course and the mentor appointments were extremely helpful and I was able to master the course well even without prior knowledge. My mentor was always there to give me advice and support and was great at guiding me through the training. I learned a lot and am looking forward to implementing this in my company!"
Johanna Weigele
"This course is up to date, modern and already looking towards the future. It’s been so interesting to read and eye opening, both for my private views on the digital world but also regarding marketing. Highly recommendable if you want a crash course in digital marketing!"
Sergio Castiglioni
" Through the Certified User Experience Designer continuing education, I have been able to gain good basic knowledge of UX design, with which I feel well equipped professionally. I see digital products from different perspectives than before, which I find enriching and which was my goal in this course. My existing UI skills are now completed with UX skills. The support of my competent mentor makes this training unbeatable and I would recommend this course anytime. "
Silvana Gerards
"After several years of working in UI/UX design, I wanted to expand my expertise. I completed the "Certified User Experience Designer" training course at XDi. This enabled me to intensify my knowledge in the areas of research, analysis, testing, strategy, requirements and planning. Through various sources and practical exercises, supported by an experienced mentor, I was able to comprehensively expand my expertise in the field of user experience"
Til Wolters
"I can absolutely recommend the 'Certified Digital Marketing Manager' course at XDi. The content is very interesting and thanks to the different assignments, you have the opportunity to learn what digital marketing is all about. My mentor is always available to clear my doubts and answer my questions. XDi is a big and wonderful family!"
Sabrina Marinelli

Meet the Team

We are there for you. Friendly, supportive and respectful. We support and accompany you in learning new things and developing yourself further.

Maria is a passionate experience designer & product strategist from Berlin. Her focus is on the strategic development of digital products based on user-centric methods. After studying human centred design, industrial design and media management in Berlin and Copenhagen, she spent several years abroad where she participated in various projects. Today she works independently as a designer and supports design teams in start-ups and established companies in the development of design systems, agile product development and digital strategies. In her private life, she euphorically develops her own projects and events, which primarily deal with ethical design and technological change.

Maria Kolitsch

Product Strategist and Experience Designer

Maria Kolitsch

Product Strategist and Experience Designer

For her daily work, Ulrike uses her knowledge and experience from over 10 years of digital strategy and design thinking as well as her skills as a systemic coach and yoga teacher. She supports colleagues and teams every day with new impulses and creative input and thus creates inspiring processes, products and trainings. With the firm conviction that innovations can only be created in an appreciative, collaborative and positive environment at the interface of people, technology and business, she embarks on a journey of discovery and creates spaces in which digital transformation can grow and valuable learning experiences can emerge.

Ulrike Stemmer

Design Thinking Facilitator, Systemic Coach

Ulrike Stemmer

Design Thinking Facilitator, Systemic Coach

Anke Friedrich studied communication design at the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences and has been working as a permanent and freelance creative for various agencies in Germany since 2012. Her main interests lie in corporate and brand design, as well as in the UX/UI conception of digital products. In the past, she has also gained a lot of experience in the area of ​​digitisation processes in packaging development. She always enjoys thinking outside the box in order to create the best possible, sustainable user experiences.

Anke Friedrich

Communication Designer & Art Director

Anke Friedrich

Communication Designer & Art Director

In his 6-year career, Philipp conceived and designed web applications and mobile apps in the enterprise and EdTech environment. In addition, he was involved in building a design system for an international company and thus gained profound experience in the entire software development process. When designing the user experience, his focus is on simplicity, speed and added value. He achieves this through an optimal workflow, an iterative approach and a high level of technical understanding.

Philipp Frisch

UI/UX Designer with focus on UI conception

Philipp Frisch

UI/UX Designer with focus on UI conception

Christopher started his career as a UX designer in the agency environment, predominantly on Volkswagen as a client. After some time, he moved to the digital agency of Commerzbank. This was followed by a stopover at Dr. Oetker’s Innovation Lab with a focus on design research and incubations. After that, he took care of a team of interdisciplinary Designer:innen in the startup of Deutsche Bank, until he was taken over by the group. For some time now, he has been working for Vanguard, the largest bond fund provider worldwide.

Christopher Leineweber

Lead Product Designer, Design Consultant & Lecturer

Christopher Leineweber

Lead Product Designer, Design Consultant & Lecturer

Luigi is an independent app and software designer, consultant and expert in the field of Digital Transformation. He has been working in the digital and media industry for more than 13 years. After his studies, he worked in the agency environment as a UX designer and was mainly responsible for the conception and design of interactive installations in the retail sector for Nespresso, adidas, Nike & Fossil, among others. Before starting his own business, Luigi worked for several years as a senior UX designer and department head for design and vision in a software company, where he designed smartphone apps and B2B platforms in the fintech, automotive and logistics segments, among others. For some time now, he has also been a lecturer for digital media at the Academy for Communication in Karlsruhe.

Luigi Bucchino

UX & UI Professional, Consultant, Lecturer — M.A. Creative Direction & B.A. Intermedia Design

Luigi Bucchino

UX & UI Professional, Consultant, Lecturer — M.A. Creative Direction & B.A. Intermedia Design

Wojta is a certified Product Owner (PSPO) and works for one of the largest German e-commerce companies (Otto Group). He is co-responsible for the further development of a multi-client e-commerce store platform, which is tailored to customer needs. He analyzes business requirements and is responsible for the development and support of new features and functions. Develops a vision for the final product, to this end must monitor all developments in the market. Researching, observing and analyzing the end customers and the market is therefore an important part of his daily work.

Wojta Prandell

Certified Scrum Product Owner

Wojta Prandell

Certified Scrum Product Owner

Shahira works as a freelance art director and lecturer and gives workshops on brainstorming, design basics and all aspects of branding. She has over 20 years of agency experience, including living and working in New York. For 10 years, she was senior art director at Jung von Matt, where she looked after national and international clients such as Mercedes-Benz, for whom she accompanied a launch into the Chinese market in Beijing, among other things. After Jung von Matt, she headed the marketing department of a company before setting up her own business.

Shahira Youssef

Art Director, Trainer & Master of Design

Shahira Youssef

Art Director, Trainer & Master of Design

“Planet. People. Profit. And a lot of Passion and Purpose.“

That is my understanding of the triple bottom line and our “new” working and living environments. As a strategic designer, agile coach and facilitator, I work in very different corporate and industry contexts: always with a focus on people, the (eco)systems surrounding them and their immediate environments. I bring experience and expertise, especially in the areas of strategic design, agile transformation and cultural work, sustainable innovation management and futures thinking.

Josef Winkler

Strategic Designer, Agile Coach & Facilitator

Josef Winkler

Strategic Designer, Agile Coach & Facilitator

Product management has been his profession for two decades. Ulf has been fortunate to work with great people in various international organizations. He is a strategic thinker and an open communicator. His focus is on innovative products and new technologies. He has experience with both physical and digital products. He very much enjoys working with multicultural and cross-functional product teams. Coaching and developing them is a special personal enrichment for him. Ulf is a believer in continuous, personal development as well as agile methods. Attitude. Transparency, trust and autonomy are important values that guide his actions.

Ulf Greiner

Freelance Product Manager, Consultant and Agile Coach

Ulf Greiner

Freelance Product Manager, Consultant and Agile Coach

Julia is an expert when it comes to all forms of communication – from analogue to digital and from 240 characters on Twitter to Instagram, LinkedIn, website and Co to textbooks. Here she brings over 20 years of experience from different industries and from leading various teams in marketing and human resources management. Together with her clients and the companies she advises and coaches, she developed sustainable and unique brand concepts. Your image and text are at least as important as the people behind a brand. Personal and employer branding are essential aspects of their marketing concepts. What counts for them is visibility and authenticity with quality. Digitisation is about people and you can never get enough of good stories. This is their formula for content marketing and digital storytelling. She also brings this to her workshops in companies and to teaching at marketing academies and universities.

Julia Collard

Diplom Economist, Expert in Communication & Online Marketing Specialist

Julia Collard

Diplom Economist, Expert in Communication & Online Marketing Specialist

Sven’s expertise covers all touchpoints of the customer journey – from web design to the Google Tool Suite (e.g. Analytics, Ads, Tag Manager) to search engine marketing. He has constantly expanded his knowledge both practically as the leader of a large marketing team and theoretically. As a Google partner and self-employed agency owner, he looks after customers and companies from individuals to start-ups and founders to corporations. His consulting approach is always characterised by appreciative communication and improving together. He is passionate about combining tools and technology with the creativity of marketing. Sven has been working as a trainer and coach in the areas of online marketing, organisational development and media coaching for many years.

Sven Schnitzler

M.A. Dynamic Management, Marketing Specialist and Kommunikation Advisor

Sven Schnitzler

M.A. Dynamic Management, Marketing Specialist and Kommunikation Advisor

Thomas teaches at the Faculty of Economics at the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and holds a professorship for financing and banking at this university. In addition to research and teaching, Thomas is successfully active in consulting and professional development. He has over 20 years of experience as a data scientist, both in research and in the project business. Today, he implements all projects in research and for external clients in Python and the corresponding Python libraries. As a mentor and trainer, Thomas stands for lively, interactive teaching that is characterised by variety between content transfer and independent work. Thomas is convinced that anyone can learn to use programming languages such as Python to solve practical problems.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Mählmann

Data Scientist and Python Coach

Prof. Dr. Thomas Mählmann

Data Scientist and Python Coach

Seit über 12 Jahren arbeitet Evi als UX Designer, UX Researcher, Creative Strategist & Design Thinker für internationale Agenturen und Namenhaften Kunden im Automotive-, Healthcare-, Financial- und Lifestyle Sektor. 
Evi findet es spannend sich immer wieder in Nutzer hineinzuversetzen, mit diesen zu empathisieren und ihre Wünsche und Bedürfnisse zu erforschen. Gemeinsam mit ihren Kunden entwickelt sie gerne Ideen und neue Produkte, um diese dann in Form von Wireframes und ersten Prototypen zum Leben zu erwecken. Ihr Ziel ist es für Marken, relevante Produkte mit einem positiven Nutzungserlebnis zu schaffen und Kunden glücklich zu machen.

Evi Graner

UX Designer, UX Researcher, Creative Strategist & Design Thinker

Evi Graner

UX Designer, UX Researcher, Creative Strategist & Design Thinker

Jason has worked in the field of digital design for over 25 years. Starting in UX, his interests have extended to human-centred design, service and strategy design. He is a published author and academic, and has taught interaction design to undergraduate students for many years. Jason is an international speaker and contributor to global discussions in Design.

Jason Hobbs

Consulting Design Leader

Jason Hobbs

Consulting Design Leader

Sven Ertel works as a freelance data analyst in a wide range of industries and has gained extensive experience in supporting companies, especially their (BI) departments. His expertise includes the design and implementation of reporting systems, data preparation and connection as well as data visualization. Among other things, he has developed global sales monitoring systems for a Bavarian car manufacturer and analyzed and prepared marketing campaign data for a German aviation company.

In his role as a data scientist at the Serviceplan Group, Sven has established a solid, professional foundation in project management for various customer projects. He has also refined and applied his IT skills in various technologies. During this time, he also led training and education on UX/UI-optimized BI reporting, helping to improve the usability and efficiency of BI solutions.

Sven Ertel

Data Scientist, Data Analyst

Sven Ertel

Data Scientist, Data Analyst

Certified and accredited

State-approved & 100% eligible for funding! Our e-learning courses are 100% subsidizable with an Bildungsgutschein from the Arbeitsagentur or the Jobcenter.

Certqua_Siegel
ZFU_Siegel

Certified and accredited

State-approved & 100% eligible for funding! Our e-learning courses are 100% subsidizable with an Bildungsgutschein from the Arbeitsagentur or the Jobcenter.

5_Sterne_Bewertung
5,0/5,0

Highly recommended

Kursfinder_Bewertung_5-5
5_Sterne_Bewertung
4,9/5,0

Highest quality

5_Sterne_Bewertung
5,0/5,0

Customer satisfaction