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Training firms

  • A training firm works like a real enterprise.

    Like in real life,  a training firm has to pay attention to common business usage and the respective legal framework. Unlike in real life, the goods and services offered and the money implied in transactions do not really exist. What does happen is the exchange of information and papers that are relevant for the business transactions. That is what is meant by virtual training with a "rescue net” that keeps "the trapeze artist from falling off the high-rope” and getting seriously hurt.

    Learning by doing and daring

    From the viewpoint of training the practice firm allows for true-to-business practice and professional and didactic reappraisal. This simulation of the economic reality supports the trainees' creativity, self-starting qualities, entrepreneurship, responsibility, teamwork, language skills - in a nutshell, those key qualifications that are also relevant for life-long learning. And it is beyond all doubt that life-long learning is what we will depend on in the future.

    Tasks in the training firm

    • correspondence, using the most up-to-date software
    • dealing with incoming mail
    • filing
    • using the telephone, the fax, the modem, internet
    • working on the PC, using graphics software
    • designing advertising media, like for instance catalogues
    • preparing and giving presentations
    • dealing with customers, suppliers, business partners
    • purchasing and selling
    • importing and exporting
    • dispatch and customs clearance
    • invoicing
    • money transfers with domestic and foreign business partners
    • banking business
    • entering business cases into the books
    • warehouse accounting and fixed assets accounting
    • calculating wages, salaries and commissions
    • cost accounting
    • settling the accounts with the revenue office and the national health insurance
    • hosting visitors and business partners
    • other mercantile tasks

    Through practical work in training firms, students will not only develop entrepreneurship skills, but also business communication, mathematical competences in order  to analyse marketing trends, marketing skills using ICT, as well as social and citizenship skills.

    Subject correlation will help students to develop key skills and competences needed in entrepreneurship, i.e.  to start up their own business.