Orange Summer School gives learning in tech an upgrade

August 25, 2025

Every summer, Orange Belgium opens its doors to a new generation of curious minds. In July, a group of ambitious tech students traded their flip-flops for laptops and swapped chilling for learning. They got a taste of what working in tech is really like, and what kind of future they could shape. 

The Orange Summer School isn’t about sitting back and taking notes. Instead, tech students get to dive straight into real projects, meet the teams behind the tech, and experience the telecom world from the inside. From site visits and workshops to hands-on challenges, it’s a learning journey that’s practical and packed with insight. By the end? They don’t just leave with new skills. They step into their future with a better sense of where they’re headed, and the confidence to go after it. 

And, at Orange, learning has no age limit, everyone gets the chance to explore the world of tech up close. As a IT technician secondary school student at the Institut René Cartigné, Macky Heilporn was extremely  excited to secure a spot in this year’s programme. “I learnt how to use various apps and software, including some that are specific to Orange,” he says. “The most challenging moment? Setting up laptops with a disk encryption feature issue. I had to figure out why it wasn’t working on new devices and solve the problem.” He also reflects on the support and guidance he received throughout the whole experience. He loved how welcoming it was from day one. “We took part in activities, received a full company introduction, and worked on a group project with other students. I think the Orange Summer School is great because the teams really included us and treated us as equals.” 

Every participant comes in curious, motivated, and ready to roll up their sleeves. It’s no surprise that Martin De Maeyer, Domain Manager at Orange Belgium, considers the Orange Summer School to be a valuable experience for both students and Orange: “My team gets meaningful support, and the students gain real-world experience. It’s a win-win situation,” he says. “Mentoring participants takes commitment, and I’m sincerely thankful to the colleagues who stepped in to guide them. Their support made a real difference for the students.”

What did students learn at the Orange Summer School in 2025? The answer changes every year and that’s exactly the point. Technology moves fast, and at Orange, we don’t just aim to keep up, we aim to stay ahead. 

Henry Chou, an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering student at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), joined the Orange Summer School to gain practical experience working for a large company. What stood out most to him? “I learned a lot about how large teams collaborate efficiently on complex projects,” he says. “My biggest challenge was working on a fiber network optimisation algorithm that determines optimal hardware placement to improve bandwidth usage and meet the growing demands from technologies like AI and 5G.” Henry enjoyed the broad approach of the Orange Summer School. He adds: “We attended workshops, visited Orange sites, and worked on a group project. These are all great ways to connect with other students. For me, the Orange Summer School was very meaningful.” 

Nicolas Popp, who is studying Data Analytics at Le Wagon, agrees: “The Orange Summer School was an engaging educational journey focused on learning and growth. During the programme, I learnt many interesting things, such as how companies store their data and how new TV applications are tested. The site visits were also really enriching.” 

Building on Nicolas’ insights, student Alexandre Vovea describes how the programme helped him gain experience using various tools. “I improved my skills with tools like Jira, Confluence, and BMC,” he explains. “I even learnt how to visualise a Python project on a webpage, and I discovered how to automate processes using AI assistants and UiPath for RPA.” In addition to technical skills, Alexandre developed important non-technical abilities. “Thanks to the Orange Summer School, I improved my autonomy and initiative by managing tasks and projects. I also improved my time management, communication and teamwork skills, and gained a better understanding of company culture.” 

From left to right: Nicolas Popp, Henry Chou, Alexandre Vovea, Macky Heilporn & Lou Simon. 

Just a school? Nope. The Orange Summer School is where careers take flight. This is the true strength of this initiative, according to Fatou Ndeye Fall, Head of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Design & Technical Systems & Solutions at Orange Belgium. “In addition to being their mentor, we offer students the opportunity to figure out who they are and where they want to go, which isn’t always easy for Gen Z”, she explains. 

Alexandre Vovea confirms: “I think this experience gave me a head start in the working world. I was especially interested in how artificial intelligence and automation are being used in the workplace. Deepening my knowledge in this area even more would be extremely valuable, as AI will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in the future.” 

Some students even experience a turning point. Fatou Ndeye Fall shares a powerful example: “One of them told me he wasn’t sure what path to take. He was thinking of studying medicine. But by the end of the program, he swore he’d come back to work for Orange in technical system and solution development.” 

The Orange Summer School is just the beginning. Through our Tech Academy, we support young talent all year round: helping them grow, connect, and gain the skills to Lead the Future. Discover how we inspire tomorrow’s tech experts at techacademybyorange.be 

Think your tech-fluency game is strong? Prove it! Discover our vacancies at proudtobeorange.be.