Bringing the worlds of work and education closer together: that's what many teachers aim to, ensuring that their students are well-prepared for their future careers.
COFEP, a project by the non-profit Connectief, is one initiative supporting this goal. It offers trainees the chance to experience the processes involved in setting up a virtual company, providing them with key insights into the professional world. This is materialized through Belfair, its annual event dedicated to virtual enterprises, during which participants can develop their business and conclude B2B and B2C virtual sales.
Teachers Leading the Change
Florence Vincent, a teacher at Athénée Royale in Ans, and Frédéric Nanni, a teacher for the Assistant Accountant qualification at Collège Saint-Augustin in Gerpinnes, have embarked on this project. They have chosen Odoo as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and share their experiences of integrating this technology into their teaching.
In 2009, Florence had the opportunity to create a virtual company with her students. “Step by step, we built our project, setting up a virtual office, creating a product catalog, looking for suppliers... all virtually, of course! As we advanced, managing commercial documents and transactions became increasingly complex, and the interactions more frequent. Our company, though virtual, grew, and the scope of our work expanded significantly.”
She highlights COFEP's role in training her on new practices and technologies. “Naturally, we turned to Odoo, which allows us to centralize operations on a single platform. It's an intuitive ERP, making it easy for students to navigate.”
Frédédric also became skilled with Odoo through the COFEP Virtual Enterprises project. “Part of my training was provided by this organization. Then, given the product's effectiveness and the students' enthusiasm, I enhanced my skills through Odoo training sessions and webinars. It is rare to find such accessible tools for both students and teachers, with high-quality training available at no cost."
Specifically, COFEP provides two-day training sessions on accounting and webshop management.
Innovative Educational Tools
Florence and Frédéric praise the Odoo Education program and its tools, such as the business game Scale-Up! and the educational truck, the LabOdoo. These resources allow students to explore entrepreneurship in a fun, hands-on manner while grasping essential concepts.
Student Perspectives
What do the students think about it?
Pierjacomini Joosten Floren, a senior student who pursued an Assistant Accounting qualification, highlights the benefits of his experience with Odoo. Through his participation in LabOdoo and the use of various Odoo applications for his final-year project, he gained practical insights into managing client sales in a simulated environment. He found the platform intuitive and easy to navigate, stating, "Odoo is a great platform for creating and managing a business, thanks to all its functionalities."
The experiences shared by both teachers and students underscore the transformative impact of integrating virtual company projects into education. By utilizing Odoo, teachers can equip students with practical skills and real-world insights that prepare them for the business world.
Immersing Students in Professional Life: Teaching Experiences with Virtual Companies