Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Odoo Middle East DMCC to strengthen practical, industry-aligned technology education for students at the School of Engineering & IT.
The collaboration formally introduces the Odoo Education Program at MAHE Dubai, creating a structured connection between classroom learning and the enterprise technology industry. Through the partnership, students will gain practical experience with open-source business applications used by organisations across multiple sectors.
Under the agreement, Odoo will provide MAHE Dubai with complimentary access to its source code, installation support, teaching resources and learning materials. Students and faculty will also participate in industry-focused workshops designed to build functional and technical knowledge of enterprise resource planning and business process automation.
Odoo provides a suite of more than 40 core business applications covering functions such as customer relationship management, e-commerce, accounting, inventory, point of sale and project management. The platform is supported by an international open-source community that develops additional applications for organisations of different sizes and industries.
Developing Practical and Employable Technology Skills
Dr. Balamurugan Balusamy, Dean of the School of Engineering & IT at MAHE Dubai, highlighted the importance of giving students access to practical, open-source platforms. “Open-source platforms like Odoo allow students to move beyond the theory of enterprise resource planning,” he said.
He added that integrating Odoo’s source code, workshops and capstone projects into academic programmes would help students develop employable skills in ERP systems and business application development. The Class to Career Program would also provide high-performing students with a valuable connection to Odoo’s regional partner ecosystem.
Practical Learning Through Hackathons and Capstone Projects
A key component of the partnership will be the introduction of Odoo source-code hackathons and applied capstone projects. These initiatives will allow students to work on real-world challenges proposed by Odoo and members of its partner network.
By engaging directly with the platform’s source code, students will be able to build, customise, test and troubleshoot enterprise applications. This experience will complement their academic learning while developing practical skills in software development, enterprise systems and process automation.
The collaboration will be integrated into relevant coursework and project-based learning within the School of Engineering & IT at MAHE Dubai. The school places a strong emphasis on industry-driven curricula, experiential learning, emerging technologies and collaborations that help students apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges.
Supporting a Future-Ready Technology Workforce
Ms. Shreya Ilango, Technical Education Consultant for the Middle East and North Africa at Odoo, said the partnership reflected Odoo’s commitment to connecting higher education with industry. She noted that students would receive direct access to the tools, learning resources and practical projects used within Odoo’s professional ecosystem.
The collaboration reflects MAHE Dubai’s continued focus on strengthening industry engagement and preparing graduates for evolving workplace requirements.
Enterprise software supports essential business functions across industries, including finance, sales, operations, logistics and customer management. Familiarity with these systems can prepare students for careers in software development, business analysis, technology consulting, ERP implementation and digital transformation.
Creating a Direct Pathway Between the Classroom and Industry
The MoU also includes Odoo’s Class to Career Program. Through this initiative, students who develop strong functional or technical proficiency on the Odoo platform may be introduced to Odoo Partners across the region for potential employment opportunities.
The programme is designed to help students translate classroom learning into demonstrable professional capabilities. Exposure to the same tools used by companies, consultants and software developers can help students understand business requirements and prepare for roles involving enterprise software, ERP implementation and application development.
The partnership will run for an initial period of three years. Odoo will not charge MAHE Dubai, its faculty or participating students for the services and educational resources provided under the programme.
The partnership also supports the UAE’s broader ambition to develop a future-ready workforce by strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions and technology companies.
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