Technobel provides job seekers with a training in IT

Lessening the gap between training and needs

To cope with the challenge posed by the shortage of certain skills and to anticipate the skills that will be needed in the future, 24 Walloon competence centers were set up in the early 2000s to reduce the disparity between training and the needs of companies. Technobel is the reference center for IT training courses in the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg.

This non-profit organization was set up on the initiative of Proximus and the Forem, the Walloon employment and training service. They have now been joined by Namur University. “This structure means that Technobel is directly aware of what companies need,” explains Technobel director Hervé Docq. “This gives us great flexibility and allows us to be responsive when setting up our training programs, which evolve in line with the requests made by companies. It’s a real virtuous circle that results in the implementation of our courses.”

A comprehensive training catalogue

“The skills center targets three groups: job seekers, the world of education and finally the business world with customized training courses in line with needs,” Hervé goes on. Whether they are IT beginners or wish to update their knowledge, the level of the students is not important.

“We have different levels of training, from beginners to advanced, and we really adapt to each group, even though generally speaking our students are quite young.” The courses cover all sectors of IT. “We have courses on networks, development, systems, office automation, cybersecurity and IoT. The courses last between one and five days, depending on the needs. For job seekers, we have a format that stretches over several weeks.”

The Technobel training courses are designed for and with the companies.

Hervé Docq

The Technobel training courses really are connected to the business world. “Thanks to internships and on-the-job learning, our students are well prepared for the business world and culture. We have an integration rate of 71 %, bearing witness to the quality we provide.”

An award-winning and innovative education system

To further strengthen the qualities of the students, Technobel has perfected an innovative education system based on the ‘‘Be a Maker’ experiment. “In 2018, we realized that the level of absenteeism was rising, as was the number of people giving up, and the integration rate was falling. We wondered whether our courses were still suited to our trainees and so we decided to revisit our approach in depth by putting in place a personalized support process and a method of teaching by doing,” Hervé says.

“In practical terms, whatever they are studying, they are judged on practical results.” These concrete cases, these prototypes, are again in line with companies’ needs. A teaching method that is unique in Belgium and that has proven its worth, and even won a European award.

Being able to invest in a structure where people are not left by the wayside is very important to us.

Antonio Galvanin

Essential synergies

The Technobel model shows why synergies between the world of training and business are essential. “Technobel makes it possible to create synergies and innovative projects with a great many of the Walloon ecosystems; moreover, this interaction between Proximus and Technobel helps meet the need for scarce skills,” says Antonio Galvanin, Head of Public Affairs Manager at Proximus.

But aside from the quality of the training courses and their practical usefulness for companies, Antonio also notes that it is very important for a company like Proximus to invest in a structure where people are not left by the wayside.