Heipnet

The project HEIPNET aim is to integrate and combine academic knowledge with practical experience in HEI  curricula so that students are enabled to develop attributes and employability skills. The Practice Enterprise (PE) concept will be supported, promoted and scaled to curricula of HEIs in the EU and strong strategic links between Practice Enterprises and businesses will be built using work-based learning methodology.
Practice Enterprise (PE) is a well known entrepreneurship education tool, used in 20 European countries for more than 60 years for different target groups. PE is a virtual company that is run like a real business company with real company business procedures, products and services. Each PE trades with other PE following commercial business procedures in the PE worldwide network.
Practice Enterprise is a practical training tool and training place for trainees to work and learn, using all the documentation, procedures and programmes needed to run a business, but without real money and goods (https://www.penworldwide.org/).

The main project target group:

1. Trainers/ teachers/practices organizers / HEIs;
2. HEI Students;
3. Business representatives.

The methodology applied in the project will promote education and business synergy and create appropriate  conditions for interaction of trainers/ practices organizers, students and business. The HEI benefits include building links with businesses, a better understanding of employers’ requirements with respect to graduate skills, active work-based learning programs for the students in PE. For business enterprises there is an opportunity to contribute to the study programs and future employees’ development. This can contribute to higher quality of education and training and support permeability between the different education and training pathways. A transnational project would
offer to combine the expertise of national experts in their field to further develop the teaching and learning setting.

The project objectives:

1. To improve the PE curriculum/module by updating its content according to the needs of the labor market and the strategy of the educational institution.
2. To develop a syllabus and manual of reference which can be used for new HE interested in implementing the PE concept and tools.
3. To strengthen the partnership between universities, their PE and Business world.