F.A.Q.

Frequently asked questions about JADE

What is a Junior Enterprise?

The Concept
The Junior Enterprise concept is based on non-profit organisations whose aim is to bridge the gap between theory and practice for students that follow higher education studies. In order to achieve this, the students carry out projects for companies and institutions. The activities of a Junior Enterprise aim at professionalism in projects and organisation.

Organisation
A Junior Enterprise is an association or co-operative society which is, in most cases, linked to a university or graduate school. A Junior Enterprise and its operationally active administrators are completely independent of influences that are outside national and European confederations of Junior Enterprises. A Junior Enterprise dissociates from political and religious issues, and refrains from any form of discrimination.

Project
A project is a sequence of linked activities that are bound by a contract and are carried out at fixed financial and temporal conditions. The project is realised by using a specific methodology to reach the aims that have been agreed with the client previously. A project is the Junior Enterprise’s way to improve student’s know-how and finance its activities.

Performance and Management
Students are involved in managing both the Junior Enterprise and the projects. Managing a Junior Enterprise means to define and to implement a strategy. This work is never remunerated, while project management and performance are. Managing a project means ensuring the progress of the service related to a specific customer while co-coordinating the activity of the performers.


The Junior Enterprise concept is on one hand obligatorily defined for the country by its national confederation in the membership form, and on the other hand, as a global directive defined by JADE (as stated above).

In Europe, the Junior Enterprises are renown for quality with respect to its organisation in general and project management in particular. To be able to guarantee this quality and to keep up the accompanying reputation, the Junior Enterprises embrace the principle of professionalism and work by means of standardized procedures and methods, as defined by the national confederation.

How do I start a Junior Enterprise?

When a group of students wants to start a Junior Enterprise (JE), they first found a Junior Initiative (JI), i.e. the gateway to becoming a JE (for a definition of both organisations, see below). Every admitted JI and JE is member of a national confederation of Junior Enterprises (if there is one).

The first Phase JI aims at the creation of a base on which a JI can be built. The phase is terminated by submitting a letter of intent and short business to JADE. In case of existing national confederations please refer to their standards.

The very first steps for a successful Junior Initiave (which then later becomes a full-fledged Junior Enterprise) are:

  • a thorough review the JADE White Book
  • a motivated team of students (5-10 persons)
  • if possible, the support of the university
  • a conference call or meeting with JADE representatives for the purpose of answering any questions

    • or

  • getting the necessary informatio, guidelines and support from the national confederation (if there is one)

Goal:
From our experience, the result of this first phase should be a short-business plan.

After you have completed the business plan and send it to JADE or the existing national confederation, JADE or the national confederation can support you with official documents promoting the concept and your efforts.

What is a Junior Initiative (JI) ?

The JI-stadium of an organisation is the gateway to becoming a Junior Enterprise (JE). In the period in which an organisation has the status of Junior Initiative, it has to demonstrate to be able to fulfil all criteria which are set for the Junior Enterprise status. In general, a JI functions just like a JE, without calling itself a Junior Enterprise. In practice, this means that a JI uses the JE concept. In this way, the European network can recognise an organisation as residing in the start-up phase.

What is the “White Book”?

The White Book (it has a white cover) is a document which is designed to help students who want to set up a Junior Enterprise (JE).

It is part of a series of manuals – The Rainbow Series - which are being developed by JADE. They serve as general directives for each country, and may support national confederations, Junior Enterprises, and Junior Initiatives.

The White Book is the only Rainbow Book which is available to the public. Other books, covering topics like project management, marketing or e.g. event management are only available to JADE Members and can be downloaded from the JADE Portal.

Download the White Book (pdf, 250kb)

What is your legal status?

JADE is an AISBL, an “association international sans but lucratif”, an international not-for-profit organisation, a legal status that is only available to not-for-profit organisations based in Belgium.

Can I work for JADE?

JADE AISBL, the European umbrella organisation for Junior Enterprises, is an entirely student-run organisation on all levels (local, national, international). If you are a JADE Member (an individual member of a JADE Junior Enterprise) you are able to work for JADE AISBL in Brussels or from remote. If you are seeking a “normal” job (paid, non-voluntary work) we will have to disappoint you. Beeing a volunteer and a student are additional critera.

What kind of services do Junior Enterprises offer?

Members of Junior Enterprises perform business and technical projects for private business, governmental and non-governmental institutions. Thanks to students from different backgrounds Junior Enterprises operate in extensive fields of services, in all sectors and different kinds of companies: multinational corporations, small and medium enterprises, universities, institutions, local communities, etc.

Fields of consulting services include:
Marketing, Organisation and Strategy consulting, International Development, Engineering, Business Planning, Logistics, Communication, Quality Management, Finance, Research and Development, Human Resources Management, Event Management, Information Technology and many more.
There are also Junior Enterprises specialised on Chemistry, Biochemistry or Mathematics. The field of study, meaning the expertise of the students as well as the stored knowledge from further students after many years of experience decides the services the Junior Enterprise can offer.

What are the fields of activity of Junior Enterprise customers?

The customers of Junior Enterprises come from various sectors and work in lots of different fields of activity.

Project References – Junior Enterprises have carried out projects for:
3M, ABB, Air France, Air Liquide, Altran, American Express, Andersen Consulting, Accenture, Apple, AT Kearney, AT&T, Axa, BMW, Bouygues, BP, British Telecom, Buitoni, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Coca Cola Beverages, Colgate Palmolive, Compaq, Crédit Suisse, DaimlerChrysler, Danone, Deutsche Bahn, DHL International, Fiat Group, Gillette, Glaxo, Honeywell, IBM, JPMorgan, KPMG, Lufthansa, McKinsey, Motorola, Nestlé, Nielsen, Nissan, Nokia, Price Waterhouse, Procter & Gamble, Reuters, Roche, SAP, Schweppes, Shell, Siemens, United Nations, Volkswagen Consulting etc.

Nevertheless, the main customers of Junior Enterprises are small- to medium-sized businesses. It is common for a Junior Enterprises to have returning customers and productive long-term business relationships.

In which stage of their studies are members of Junior Enterprises?

More than 50% of all Junior Enterprise members are in the second half of their studies
More than 50% of all Junior Enterprise members are in the second half of their studies. Students usually join in the first or second year of their studies and as they pursue their studies they also make a career in their Junior Enterprise and eventually become board members.

What do Junior Enterprise members study in university?

More than 50% of all Junior Enterprise members are enrolled in engineering related courses
The JADE Network is composed of a lot of engineering and business administration students. But Junior Enterprises are also know to have art students, future teachers, physicians, physicists and language students as members as well.

What is a Confederation?

National confederations are the organisations, which confederate Junior Enterprises present in each country. If you are interested in the Junior Enterprise Movement in a specific country, feel free to contact a JADE member.

What is a Consultative Member?

Consultative members are any Junior Enterprises existing in a country where there is no National Confederation already member of JADE.

What is the JADE House ? How can I get there?

The JADE House is the registered office of JADE. It is situated in: rue Ulens 82, 1080 Brussels, Belgium. If your Junior Enterprise is a member of JADE you have the possibilty to come and visit JADE House through the Open Doors Programme.

Can I become a project manager?

Usually only JADE members are able to work for JADE. In specific cases exceptions can be made. Further information is available on the JADE Portal (members only) or by contacting JADE Office.

Can I become a JADE Executive Board member?

See question above.