Europackage & Print – Practice Firm at the Catholic University of Kempen in Turnhout, Belgium
The practice firm EPP was established in 2000, at the Catholic University of Kempen in Turnhout, Belgium, within its Management Training Office. The practice firm is an integral part of the University’s Bachelor Education program with an emphasis on foreign languages.
There are many printing companies operating within the city of Turnhout. It was, therefore, decided to set up EPP, as a supplier of cardboard for the industry, and Vangenechten Biermans, a world player in the industry, is the sponsor/mentor company.
There were three stages in the development of the practice firm EPP: Initially, the company was founded to practice and deveop the students foreign languages skills. It soon became apparent that, in addition to languages skills, Secretariat/ commercial business skills development was taking place, and being delivered successfully. Gradually method competency, inter-personal skills and social skills were added. In 2007 EPP was awarded “the quality label for practice firms”.
Each employee of EPP – (whose mother language is Dutch) – is responsible for at least 9 "foreign speaking" practice firms to communicate and trade with. These include 3 German, 3 French and 3 English speaking practice firms. In addition, he/she assumes a second role in the processing of mail, calculation of wages, etc.
The strength of the practice firm concept is that it can be tailored to your own situation. One can ignore aspects of the company that are not relevant to the trainee’s training. In our practice firm, EPP, there are three core processes:
1. Communication with foreign partners
2. Secretarial/Administration
3.Organization of meetings, travels,
projects, events.....
Since 2003, EEP has been participating, each year, at the German practice firm trade fair.
The practice firm is a considerable added value for the Management Training Office delivering the core processes in a realistic environment.
The practice firm has gained a prominent place in the university supporting other university training programs and training courses In order to increase the benefit of the practice firm, we are striving to deliver all subjects within our practice firm, and make it a "Core project key “ training module.