The modules in detail

1. Fundamentals
   Overview
   Description of the modules 1.1. Module BM and Teaching Methods 1
   1.2. Module BM and Teaching Methods 2
   1.3. Module IT 1 (E-mail / Internet)
   1.4. Module Management 1
2. The establishment of training firms and a training firms centre
   Overview
   Description of the modules 2.1. Module Equipment
   2.2. Module TF 1 (establishment and organisation)
   2.3. Module Training Firm Centre 1
   2.4. Module Training Firm Centre 2
   2.5. Module TF 2 (subject teaching methods, study visit)
3. Going public and networking
   Overview
   Description of the modules 3.1. Module TF 3 - Networking
   3.2. Module IT 2 (programming websites)
   3.3. Module IT 3 (training firms’ websites)
   3.4. Module Languages
   3.5. Module TF 4 (trade fair preparation, presentation and negotiation techniques)
   3.6. Module National Training Firms Fair
   3.7. Module International Training Firms Fair + Networking in ECO NET
4. Dissemination
   Overview
   Description of the modules 4.1. Train the Trainer: Strategy Development
   4.2. Train the Trainer: Fundamentals I
   4.3. Train the Trainer: Fundamentals II
   4.4. Train the Trainer TF I
   4.5. Train the Trainer TF II
   4.6. Train the Trainer Going Public
   4.7. Train the Trainer Going Public II
   4.8. Train the Trainer Monitoring

1. Fundamentals

Overview

Modules 1.1. to 1.3. should be carried out before the training firms are set up, but can be inserted in the form of tailor-made inputs if deficits arise later.

Description of the modules

1.1. Module BM and Teaching Methods 1

Target groups: Business/Economics and Languages teachers

Targets: The teachers should be familiar with the operational areas of the company and how the sub-areas of the company interact. They should, in accordance with the training objectives mentioned above, become familiar with skills- and practice-orientated teaching methods.

Output: By utilising new teaching methods, the participants are capable of training pupils in core competencies. They are familiar with the operational areas of the company and their interaction, and are able to put this knowledge into practice when setting up training firms.

1.2. Module BM & Teaching Methods 2

Target group: Business/economics teachers, language teachers

Targets: The teachers should be able to initiate and conclude purchase contracts with the related correspondence and to carry out company communications according to normal international standards.

They should be able to draw up a business plan. The subject content should be worked out actively in order to become familiar with student-centred and practice-orientated teaching methods.

Output: Participants are able to carry out the communication steps required to initiate and conclude purchase contracts with business partners and are able to draw up general terms and conditions. They are able to produce a business plan.

1.3. Module IT 1 (Email / Internet)

Target group: All teachers working in the training firm: business/economics teachers who manage training firms; language teachers who teach in the training firm; the manager of the training firms centre; the manager of the Economics School (contact person in ECO NET).

Targets: The participants should be able to carry out correspondence via email and to find information required in the internet using search engines. Presentation of the ECO NET website.

Output: The participants are able to use email and the internet for communicating and networking in ECO NET.

1.4. Module Management 1

Target group: Representatives of the education authority, headteachers

Targets: To become familiar with the fundamentals of project management and school development. Planning of measures to change the curriculum, the introduction of training firms teaching and other teaching methods.

Output: Curricula in which training firms teaching and the use of other student-centred methods are integrated. The education authorities are able to carry out the organisational measures required to implement the new forms of teaching. The participants are trained in project management and are able to implement the ECO NET project in their country.

2. The establishment of training firms and a training firm centre

Overview

Modules 2.1. to 2.4. should be completed before the start of a new school year, so that the training firms can be set up with the pupils at the start of the school year.

Module 2.5. should be carried out in the first months of teaching after the start of training firm work with the pupils.

Description of the Modules

2.1. Module Equipment

Target/Output: Fitting out the training firms' offices and the training firm centre with a minimum level of equipment.

2.2. Module TF 1 (establishment and organisation)

Target group: Business/economics teachers who are to manage a training firm and who possess the fundamental knowledge as defined in Point 1. Headteachers, language teachers.

Targets: The participants should:

• be familiar with the principal objectives which are to be achieved with the training firm operations,
• be informed about the framework conditions of training firm work,
• be able to found a training firm,
• be able to organise the setting up of the training firm and its work processes.

Output: The participants have chosen the area of business of the training firm and are in a position to found and build up their training firm.

2.3. Module Training Firm Centre 1

Target group: Manager and staff of the training firm centre

Targets: To become familiar with the functions of a training firm and its organisation. Knowledge of the organisation of financial transactions at national and international levels, focus on ECO NET.

Output: Participants are able to build up a national training firm centre.

2.4. Module Training Firm Centre 2

Target group: Manager and staff of the training firm centre

Targets: Organisation of the centre; setting up documentation of work processes.

Output: The training firm centre has been established, the work process within the companies in the network have been organised, the documents and forms required have been created. Processes and forms have been documented.

2.5. Module Training firm 2 (subject teaching methods, study visit)

Target group: Training firm managers

Targets: Sitting in on training firm work, in order to become familiar with the work in the departments, the organisation and the strategies of an operational training firm, and to actively participate. Subsequent seminar, in which the participants plan and play out teaching methods which are specifically suited to the work in the training firm, and familiarise themselves with suitable evaluation models.

Output: The participants are able to plan and organise the lessons in a training firm and to manage the training firm.

3. Going Public and Networking

Overview

Description of the modules

3.1 Module TF 3 - Networking

Target group: Training firm managers, manager and staff of centres

Targets: Organisation of trade at a national level and with the other ECO NET countries, registration with webshops and other digital networks. Business arrangements. Drawing up a concept for the training firm website.

Output: All participants are informed about the processes involved in networking and have received all necessary instructions and papers. The training firms have exchanged offers and made business arrangements which will lead to flourishing trade. The participants are able to use electronic trade platforms. A concept for the design of the training firm website has been created.

3.2. Module IT 2 (website programming)

Targets/Ouput: Programming the websites of the training firms and the training firm centre websites by a web designer.

3.3 Module IT3 (training firms’ websites)

Target group: Training firm managers, language teachers, IT specialists, manager and staff of centre

Targets: The participants should acquire basic skills in Frontpage in the workshop (updates); texts and data should be put onto the already pre-programmed training firms’ websites.

Output: The training firms’ websites have been completed; the participants are able to carry out updates.

3.4 Module Languages

Target group: Language teachers who teach in the training firms

Targets: The participants should be able to provide pupils with practically-orientated training for speaking and other communication situations (e.g. sales talk).

Output: Participants are able to train TF staff in communication, presentation and negotiation techniques in the foreign language.

3.5 Module TF 4 (fair preparation, presentation and negotiation skills)

Target group: Training firm managers

Targets: The participants should be able to prepare their training firm for the fair and should receive training in presentation, negotiation and sales techniques.

Output: The participants are able to set up (together with the training firm’s staff) professional fair stands and create catalogues and to train staff in sales and negotiations techniques.

3.6 Module National Training Firm Fair

Target group: Training firm staff and training firm managers

Targets: Establishing and intensifying trade relationships; consolidating a position in the training firm market and feedback.

Output: Building up business and personal contacts. Business deals which provide impetus for the network. Feedback on the success of sales strategies and orientation.

3.7 Module International Training Firm Fair + Networking in ECO NET

Target group: Fair: training firms’ staff and training firm managers; planning for networking: training firm managers, managers of training firm centres, decision-makers.

Targets: Fair: building up and intensifying trade relationships in ECO NET; consolidating a position on the international training firms’ market and feedback. Use of foreign languages.

Planning and organisation of networking: exchange of experiences, resolving of problems in the network; agreements. Planning projects related to training firms.

Output: Many cross-border business and personal contacts in ECO NET. Business deals and thus impetus for the network. Feedback on the success of sales strategies and the use of foreign languages, orientation aids for the further development of the training firm.

Agreements to continue the ECO NET network. Concepts for joint projects.

4. Dissemination

Overview

Description of the modules

4.1. Train the trainer: Strategy Development

Target group: Decision-makers in the respective ministries of education and/or responsible planning institutions; training firm centre managers.

Targets: Advice for the development of a national dissemination concept based on dissemination experience in other countries.

Output: Multi-stage dissemination concept; identification of the required dissemination instruments (train the trainers programme, production of materials etc.)

4.2 Train the Trainer: Fundamentals I

Target group: Teacher trainers for the introduction of the TF concept.

Targets: The managers of the TF centres and a core group of committed training firm managers and language teachers will be trained as teacher trainers: they should be able to run courses in fundamentals (BM, IT, languages) on the basis of the in-service course series which have been drawn up.

Output: Core group of teacher trainers, who can run in-service course series in the area of fundamentals on behalf of the respective ministry.

4.3 Train the trainer: Fundamentals II

Target group: Teacher trainers for the introduction of the TF concept.

Targets: An in-service teacher training concept adapted to the needs of the respective country for the area of fundamentals will be developed along with the necessary materials.

Output: Materials for the in-service teacher training modules for fundamentals.

4.4 Train the trainer TF I

Target group: Managers of training firms centres, experienced training firm managers, representatives of in-service training institutions.

Targets: The participants should be able to develop a seminar design and to use the presentation and moderating skills required to hold a seminar. Drawing up of a training concept for the training of training firm managers.

Output: The participants are as teacher trainers able to plan and carry out seminars to train new training firm managers. Chronologically structured, methodically prepared concept for the training of training firm managers.

4.5 Train the trainer TF II

Target group: Managers of training firm centres, experienced training firm managers, representatives of in-service training institutions.

Targets: Development of materials and documentation which are required for the training of new training firm managers and for the establishment, building up and management of a training firm.

Output: Materials and documentation which are used for the training of training firm managers and which can be used by the new training firm managers for the establishment, building up and management of a training firm.

4.6 Train the trainer - Going Public I

Target group: Managers of training firm centres, experienced training firm managers, representatives of in-service training institutions (participants as in Points 4.4. to 4.6.)

Targets: Development of a training concept to prepare training firm managers for trade involving national and international business partners and at training firm fairs.

Output: Teacher trainers who are able to train the training firm managers according to the training concept developed in the area “going public” / networking.

4.7 Train the trainer going public II

Target group: Managers of training firm centres, experienced training firm managers, representatives of in-service training institutions (participants as in Points 4.4. to 4.6.)

Targets: Development of materials and documentation which is required within the framework of the training for going public/networking and can be used by the training firm managers in the implementation of training contents in teaching.

Output: Materials and documentation for the training module "going public".

4.8. Train the trainer: monitoring

Target group: Inspectors and/or those institutions which have been commissioned by the ministry of education to carry out quality assurance.

Targets: Introduction to the training firms concept: targets, basics of the organisation of training firm work and quality features.

Introduction to monitoring instruments (characteristics of successful training firms work).

Output: Inspectors are familiar with the targets of the training firms concept and can evaluate the principal aspects of training firm work and thus fulfil their monitoring task.