How about a school named after an Economics Nobel Prize winner? That’s the Elinor-Ostrom-Schule for you. It is located right here in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. This public Oberstufenzentrum is dedicated to commercial professions.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule was founded in 1998. It began as the OSZ Bürowirtschaft und Dienstleistungen. The focus was on full-time training for office professions. In 2013, the school was renamed Elinor-Ostrom-Schule. This honored Elinor Ostrom, the American Nobel laureate in Economics. She researched common goods. The school celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 5, 2018. It marked two decades of educating future professionals.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule emphasizes full-time vocational training. One key profession is Kauffrau/Kaufmann für Büromanagement. Since 2014 and 2015, Sport- und Fitnesskaufleute have also been trained full-time. The school offers a career-preparatory program called Integrierte Berufsausbildungsvorbereitung. It also provides study-qualifying programs like Fachoberschule and Berufsoberschule. A unique feature is the dual qualification program. It combines vocational training with Fachoberschule. Students can pursue a university entrance qualification. This can be with or without a focus on economics or business informatics. The school supports each student individually. It considers their strengths and development.
Since 2004 the Elinor-Ostrom-Schule has focused on learning in specific fields. This approach dissolves classic subjects. It integrates content into process-oriented learning arrangements. Practical training happens in a simulated learning office. This learning office mirrors purchasing and sales processes. Personnel processes are also simulated using the ERP system SAP R/3.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule has developed the erp4school learning platform. This platform is used nationwide. It helps other vocational schools teach with SAP ERP ECC 6.0 software. The platform separates the practical use of the software from business contexts. The school also developed the training program “Kaufmännische/r Assistent/-in für Informationsverarbeitung Schwerpunkt: Unternehmenssoftware/ERP”. Graduates bridge the gap between business and technical departments. The school supports other institutions through its Schülerfirma “supERP”. Students provide basic training and support to colleagues from other schools.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule offers annual internships abroad. Destinations include Ireland, England, Finland, and Poland. Supported by the EU’s Leonardo project, over 50 trainees travel abroad each year. These internships last between 4 and 12 weeks. The school partners with the agency “Go Europe”. This partnership allows for more international opportunities.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule has received several awards. It has been recognized as an “Umweltschule in Europa” three times. In 2011, the junior company “Solarsystems” received the Berlin Environmental Award from BUND. In March 2014, the school was nominated for the German School Prize.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule has three locations. The Mandelstraße site was built between 1914 and 1924. Ludwig Hoffmann designed it. He also designed the Rudolf-Virchow-Krankenhaus and the Märkische Museum. The building is a plastered brick structure. It features a closed street front and a four-story wing in the courtyard. The Pappelallee site was built in 1873 and 1874. Hermann Wilhelm A. Blankenstein designed it. The building features a red clinker facade.
The Förderverein supports political education events. It also supports seminars and training for students. It promotes school working groups and cooperation with training companies. The association supports the school’s public relations and the student companies “supERP” and “Solar Systems”. The association supports partnerships with two schools in Tanzania. It manages funds from donations and sponsor runs.
The Elinor-Ostrom-Schule continues to evolve. It prepares students for the demands of tomorrow’s business world. By integrating sustainability and practical experience, it equips them for success. This commitment makes the Elinor-Ostrom-Schule a notable institution in Berlin.