Locations
National Networks
Countries with a national Practice Enterprise network are managed by a national Central Office. Staff at the Central Office carry out the macro-economic functions and support to provide a real-world business environment. This includes typical business world services, such as banking, customs, income tax, payroll tax, utilities, and registration.
Further, the Central Office is responsible for trainers training, the national database, and the national banking system. This means that it ensures the connection between national Practice Enterprises and their international counterparts. This links trainers and trainees across 40 countries worldwide:
ACT – Austrian Center for Practice Enterprises
In 1993, Austria became the first country in Europe to make Practice Enterprise (PE) a required part of its national school curriculum. At the same time, they set up the Austrian Center for Practice Enterprises (ACT), which is managed by the Ministry of Education. ACT manages a network of more than 800 Practice Enterprises in vocational schools.
Contact:
Seilerstätte 5/8
1010 Wien, Austria
T: +43 670 652 6360
info@act.at
www.act.at
COFEP – Connectief
COFEP was started as a project by the non-profit organization Connectief. It began within the training centers of VDAB, the Flemish unemployment service. Each year, about 4,200 students participate in Practice Enterprise. These include secondary school and university college students, as well as jobseekers from vocational training centers. Its partners include the Flemish Department of Education and Training, VDAB and Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
Contact
Keizerslaan 11
1000 Brussels, Belgium
T: +32 473 33 20 18
cofep@cofep.be
www.cofep.be
Bermuda is a developing country for Practice Enterprise, with four Practice Enterprises operating with guidance from our USA network. The USA has been assisting development in Bermuda since 2017.
For more information, please contact our Coordination Center Bermuda office at bermuda@penworldwide.org.
Bosnia Herzegovina is a developing country for Practice Enterprise with a number of Practice Enterprises established in VET schools.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at bih@penworldwide.org.
Sebrae Minas – Empresa Simulada
Practice Enterprise in Brazil started in 1996 with the launch of the CESBRASIL project at SEBRAE Minas. Initially focusing on one school, the program expanded to include multiple educational institutions.
In 1998, SEBRAE Minas joined PEN Worldwide, gaining international recognition. SEBRAE Minas remains the sole authorized organization in Brazil to manage and license the Practice Enterprise methodology.
Contact
Avenida Barão Homem de Melo, 329
Nova Granada – Belo Horizonte – Minas Gerais 30431-285, Brazil
T: +55 31 3379 9338
empresasimulada@sebraemg.com.br
www.empresasimulada.com.br
BUCT – Bulgarian Center of Practice Enterprises
The Bulgarian Center of Practice Enterprises was started by teachers from the National School for Finance and Economy in Sofia in 1993. It was initially part of the school and supported Practice Enterprises across Bulgaria. In 1999, it became an independent unit of the Ministry of Education and Science. BUCT moved into new, well-equipped facilities at the Ministry.
Contact
52A G.M.Dimitrov blvd.
1125 Sofia, Bulgaria
T: +359 2 963 2272
buct@buct.org
www.buct.org
RCEE-CPEN
The first Practice Enterprise outside of Europe was set up in Quebec City in 1995. After that, more Practice Enterprises opened throughout Quebec and Canada, leading to the creation of the Canadian Practice Enterprise Network (CPEN) in 1998. There are now just over 20 Practice Enterprises in the network, with the majority focusing on helping job seekers, and others in educational programs in colleges and universities for students.
CPEN is officially recognized by Emploi-Québec as a partner in employability. Since 1995, we have helped over 50,000 job seekers and trainees achieve their potential.
Contact
533, Ontario East St.
Montreal (Quebec), H2L 1N8, Canada
T: +1 514 508 1620
direction@rcee-cpfn.ca
www.rcee-cpen.ca
Institute Virginio Gomez – Central de Simulación de Chile
Professional Institute Virginio Gomez, part of the University of Concepción Corporation, manages the Chile Central Office. Located across the Bio Bio and Ñuble regions, the institute has campuses in Concepción, Chillan, and Los Angeles. Currently, the institute serves over 9,000 students.
Practice Enterprises at the institute started in 2014 in Concepción, Los Angeles, and Chillán. Initially, they involved students from the Administration program. In 2018, the activities expanded to include students from the Engineering program.
Contact
Calle Arturo Prat, 196
4030000 Concepión, Chile
Chile Contact Form
www.virginiogomez.cl
ChinaPEN
Beijing Zhengbao Yucai Education Technology Co., Ltd., known as “Zhengbao Yucai,” is a subsidiary of Zhengbao Distance Education. It represents a global business simulation consortium in China and runs nationwide entrepreneurship Practice Enterprise projects.
Since 2007, the Entrepreneurship Practice Enterprise activities have expanded to 27 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, collaborating with nearly 100 cities. The company has formed expert teams and established local sub-centers in 18 cities. To date, it has trained over 800,000 students and more than 8,000 teachers.
Contact
Xueyuan International Tower
100083 Beijing, China
T: +86 108 231 9999
bsec@cdeledu.com
www.chinapen.org.cn
CEFIF
The Czech Central Office was established in 1992 at the University of Economics in Prague. In 2002, it moved to the National Pedagogical Institute, which is run directly by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. Every year, a major international trade fair is held in Prague.
Contact
Senovážné náměstí 25
110 00 Praha, Czech Republic
T: +420 274 022 425
sekretariat@npi.cz
www.cefif.npi.cz
SIMU Learning
SIMU Learning is part of the IBC International Business College in Denmark. It launched its first Practice Enterprise in 1990 with guidance from Germany.
It offers three different simulation systems: two for retail stores and one for commerce/administration. The retail simulations teach how to work in and manage specific types of stores. Their commerce system includes an open world and several closed worlds. Practice Enterprises in these worlds can only trade with others in the same world, whether it’s open or closed.
Contact
Birkemosevej 1
6000 Kolding, Denmark
T: +45 7224 2042
learning@simu.dk
www.simu.dk
REEP Euro Ent’Ent
The Practice Enterprise network in France started in 1989. It was initially for adults in vocational training centers, especially for retraining army personnel and textile industry workers. In 1993, the program expanded to support labourers and entrepreneurs, in collaboration with Guild Chambers and Chambers of Commerce. In 1999 it began in technical schools. University students were added in 2003. Today, the network serves nearly 7,000 trainees across the country.
Contact
23, rue Eucher Girardin
F-42335 ROANNE Cedex, France
T: +33 77 23 26 70
info@euroentent.net
www.euroentent.net
ZUEF – Zentralstelle des Deutschen ÜbungsFirmenRings
The German Central Office for Practice Enterprises is part of Bfz-Essen GmbH and manages a network of about 500 Practice Enterprises across Germany. For over 35 years, the Central Office has offered services to these Practice Enterprises, helping them operate realistically and efficiently.
The German network also regularly offers training for trainers, including informational sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. These activities help share best practices and promote ongoing development within the network.
Contact
Karolingerstraße 93
45141 Essen, Germany
T: +49 201 3204 340
zentralstelle@zuef-edu.de
www.die-zentralstelle.de
Déak Ferenc Secondary School
Hungary has several Practice Enterprises supported by Ferenc Deák Secondary School in Gyor. The school in Gyor is currently working with the PEN Worldwide Coordination Centre to establish a national office for Hungary.
Contact
Bisinger sétány 32
9022 Győr, Hungary
T: +36 96 312 135
info@taniroda.hu
www.taniroda.hu
Virtual Company Indonesia
Virtual Company Indonesia (VCI) is a Practice Enterprise Program that helps secondary students gain business experience. They learn everything from coming up with ideas to planning and running a company.
The Practice Enterprise program is part of the school curriculum, but how it’s implemented can vary between schools depending on their schedules. The curriculum covers topics like economics, business, marketing, accounting, digital simulation, and English.
Contact
Jl. TB. Simatupang No. 8
Cilandak Barat
Jakarta Selatan 12430, Indonesia
T: +62 217 5917 888
admin@virtualcoindonesia.org
www.virtualcoindonesia.org
SIMULIMPRESA
The Italian Central Office, located at the Istituto Don Calabria vocational training center in Ferrara, began in October 1994. It was supported by Fundaciò Inform Spain and the Emilia-Romagna Region, the first region in Italy to try out learning-by-doing. SIMULIMPRESA is a work-based training program that focuses on administration, tourism, and industry.
Today, the Practice Enterprise concept in Italy is used in various fields such as administration, tourism, and industry. It caters to different groups, including young people, the unemployed, workers needing to update their skills, women re-entering the workforce, and secondary school students.
Contact
Viale Don Calabria, 13
44124 – Ferrara, Italy
T: +39 05 32747902
centrale@simulimpresa.com
www.simulimpresa.com
Ivory Coast is a developing country for Practice Enterprise with one Practice Enterprise project in operation, in partnership with our Swiss network. Switzerland has been assisting development in Ivory Coast since 2017.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at cote.divoire@penworldwide.org.
Jordan is developing its Practice Enterprise program. Currently, there is one Practice Enterprise project for vocational education and training students. This project is in partnership with a private school in Amman.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at jordan@penworldwide.org.
KCPE-QKNP – Kosovo Center for Practice Enterprise /
Qendra Kosovare e Firmave Ushtrimore
Practice Enterprises started in Kosovo in 2006. The Kosovo Center for Practice Enterprise (KCPE) was set up in 2009 and became a member of the international association in 2016. KCPE is a department of the Kosovo Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and operates over 100 Practice Enterprises across Kosovo.
Contact
Rr. Lidhja e Pejes Nr. 72
10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
T: +383 38 211 413
fu@ks-practicefirms.com
www.ks-practicefirms.com
Simulith Centre
The Lithuania Practice Enterprise Program began in June 1993, created by the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture and Science along with three Danish business colleges. The national Central Office, named “Simulith Centre”, was established in 1994 and is based at Vilniaus Kolegija/University of Applied Sciences.
Each year, about 2,600 students participate in Practice Enterprise. These include secondary school and university students, as well as adults from vocational rehabilitation institutions undergoing retraining.
Contact
Saltoniskiu str. 58-117
08105 Vilnius, Lithuania
T: +370 5 219 1646
slinfo@viko.lt
www.sl.viko.lt
Jonk Entrepreneuren
Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl is a non-profit organization that offers entrepreneurship education programs for youth. This organization, also known as JEL, manages the Central Office for Practice Enterprises in Luxembourg, called CLEE (Centrale Luxembourgeoise des Entreprises d’Entraînement). The program is included in the 12th-grade curriculum of vocational schools and is supported by the national ministry of education.
Contact
14, rue Erasme
L-1468 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
T: +352 2611 0121
info@clee.lu
www.clee.lu
Madagascar is developing its Practice Enterprise program and currently has one Practice Enterprise project in operation, in collaboration with our Swiss network.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at madagascar@penworldwide.org.
Malaysia is a developing country for Practice Enterprise, with a previous Practice Enterprise network located across the country. We are actively seeking a national partner to manage the Malaysian network.
For more details, please reach out to our Coordination Center at malaysia@penworldwide.org.
Servis Centar Preduzeća Za Vježbu Crne Gore
Montenegro has been developing its Practice Enterprise program for close to twenty years and currently has 70 Practice Enterprises in operation. The Montenegrin Central Office was set up in June 2005 and is based at the Center for Vocational Education. The Center is actively looking for more national partners to help manage the Montenegrin network.
Contact
Vaka Đurovića bb,
81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
T: +381 20 664785
serviscentarpzv@gmail.com
Servis Centar Preduzeća Za Vježbu Crne Gore
PENNED
PenNed is the Dutch Central Office of Practice Enterprises and was established in late November 2017. PenNed is a Stichting Praktijkleren initiative. Stichting Praktijkleren is a Dutch provider of learning and examination materials for vocational training programs, focusing mainly on VET schools in the Netherlands in economic and commercial education.
PenNed oversees the Dutch Practice Enterprises. It sets up training courses for new schools, creates a registration website, and provides access to software and databases. PenNed also offers coaching trainers, manages a helpdesk, facilitates information exchanges, and supports other interested organizations.
Contact
Disketteweg 11
3821 AR Amersfoort, Netherlands
T: +31 (033) 470 99 30
penned@stichtingpraktijkleren.nl
www.penned.nl
Norway is developing its Practice Enterprise program and currently has one Practice Enterprise project in operation, in collaboration with our Danish network.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at norway@penworldwide.org.
Portugal is developing its Practice Enterprise network. The “Practice@Business” project was run by the Portuguese organisation OIKOS, PEN Worldwide, and Fundació Inform Spain. This project aimed to introduce the Practice Enterprise method to Portugal and focused on creating and piloting a model that fits the needs of Portugal, especially for helping young people who are not working or in school.
We are now looking for a national partner to grow the Portuguese network. All materials from the project, such as guides and curriculums, are available for potential partners.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at portugal@penworldwide.org.
Romania started using Practice Enterprise in vocational and technical education in 2001. The Romanian Ministry of Education, Research, Youth, and Sport operates a Practice Enterprise network across Romania that is currently unaffiliated with PEN Worldwide.
PEN Worldwide is collaborating with the Romanian Ministry of Education to reintegrate Romanian Practice Enterprises into the global network.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at romania@penworldwide.org.
Serbia is working on growing its Practice Enterprise program and has 76 Practice Enterprises currently in operation that are unaffiliated with PEN Worldwide. We are currently working with the existing Serbian network to reintegrate the Serbian Practice Enterprises into the worldwide network.
For further information, please contact our Coordination Center at serbia@penworldwide.org.
KoreaPEN
KoreaPEN is the Central Office for Practice Enterprises in South Korea. It started its activities in 2013, mentored by the German Central Office. Today, there are more than 20 Practice Enterprises in various secondary schools and universities across South Korea.
Contact
2F, 54 Seoulsup-gil, Seoungdong-gu
Seoul 04766, South Korea
T: +82 2 323 8523
mjkim@koreapen.org
www.koreapen.org
SCCF
The Slovak Practice Enterprise Center (SCCF) is part of the State Institute of Vocational Training (ŠIOV). It was established in 1998 in Bratislava, with support from Slovakia’s Ministry of Education and from Austria’s Ministry of Education and KulturKontakt.
In 2008, SCCF moved to the State Institute for Vocational Training in Bratislava. It also operates a branch at the University of Economics in Bratislava, specifically at the Faculty of Economics’ Department of Education.
Contact
Bellova 54/a
837 63 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
T: +421 911 469 691
sccf@siov.sk
www.sccf.sk
CUPS
The Slovenian Center for Practice Enterprises supports all Practice Enterprises across Slovenia. It began in 2003 at the Secondary School of Economics in Celje.
The Center maintains a strong network of Slovenian Practice Enterprises for both education and adult training. It ensures the network operates smoothly, offers modern teaching methods, evaluates the performance of Practice Enterprises, and offers teachers training.
Contact
Kosovelova ulica 4
3000 Celje, Slovenia
T: +386 3 428 54 54
cups@escelje.si
www.cups.si
Fundació Inform
Fundació Inform is a foundation that offers training services to help people get jobs and continue learning throughout their lives. Its mission is to develop, strengthen, and share training tools that help various groups of people get jobs and improve their skills through hands-on learning.
Since 1987, it has managed the SEFED Project, which trains students and job seekers using a hands-on work-based learning approach. They also operate the Spanish Practice Enterprise Network, which includes 310 active Practice Enterprises in Spain. Fundació Inform was a founding member of PEN Worldwide.
Contact
C/ Del Pí, 24
08810, Sant Pere de Ribes
Barcelona, Spain
T: +34 938 964 700
comunicacion@inform.es
www.inform.es
PEN Sweden
The Swedish Practice Enterprise network has been part of the worldwide association from the start. In 2003, the Central Office BTC, became a private company and 2022 BTC changed its name to PEN Sweden.
PEN Sweden offers various services that make the training companies function realistically based on several professional areas. Our services aim to help people get jobs and continue learning throughout their lives. Its mission is to develop, strengthen, and share training tools that help various groups of people get jobs and improve their skills through hands-on learning. The practice enterprise is used primarily in actions ordered by secondary schools, Labor Office and Municipalities.
Contact
BOX 1142
172 23 Sundbyberg, Sweden
T: +46 70 531 1669
info@pensweden.se
www.pensweden.se
HELVARTIS
Helvartis is a non-profit organization based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland that operates the Central Office and manages the national network of Practice Enterprises. It started in 1994, created by the Commercial Employees Society and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Helvartis offers various services that make the Practice Enterprises operate realistically, it sets quality standards and checks them regularly to ensure that all Practice Enterprises meet these standards uniformly across the Swiss network.
Contact
Rue Jardinière 69
2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
T: +41 32 910 94 03
info@helvartis.ch
www.helvartis.ch
ReeT – Réseau des Entreprises
d’Entraînement de Tunisie
Tunisia is growing and developing its Practice Enterprise program with two types of Practice Enterprises: one for unemployed people and another for schools (both private and public). The national Central Office is located in Tunis and managed by ReeT. The Swiss network has been supporting development efforts in Tunisia from the start.
Contact
ReeT
44 Avenue Kheireddine Pacha
1002 Tunis, Tunisia
T: +216 71 905 777
tunisie@penworldwide.org
www.ee-reseau-tunisie.tn
Turkey is a developing country for Practice Enterprise, with one Practice Enterprise currently operating and hosted by our Coordination Center. We are actively seeking a national partner to grow the Turkey network.
For more details, please reach out to our Coordination Center at turkey@penworldwide.org.
VE International
Virtual Enterprises International (Virtual Enterprise = Practice Enterprise) is an educational non-profit where students ideate, create and operate a simulated business. VE provides middle and high school students with authentic business and entrepreneurship experiences through its live global business simulation model.
VE students run business ventures in their classrooms and engage in trading with other student-run businesses both nationally and internationally. Through starting and managing businesses connected by a simulated banking system, students develop business acumen, financial literacy, an entrepreneurial mindset, and life-long skills valued by colleges and employers. Since 1996, VEI has served more than 250,000 students.
Contact
122 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10023, USA
T: +1 212 769 27 10
info@veinternational.org
www.veinternational.org
Development
We are continually seeking partnerships with key national and regional stakeholders, including ministries of labor and education, chambers of industry and commerce, and associations related to public employment and education. Additionally, we invite existing networks of Practice Enterprises, both from within and outside our current network, to consider joining our global association. Our primary objective is to foster international cooperation.
Are you interested in opening a Practice Enterprise at your institution? Are you part of a national Practice Enterprise network which is not a member of PEN Worldwide? Reach out to our Coordination Center via the Contact Form and we are happy to provide further information.
