Building Tomorrow’s Developers: How TOTVS Is Powering the Future of Progress OpenEdge Talent
The future of technology depends on more than innovation; it depends on people. Across industries, organizations are grappling with a growing challenge—finding qualified developers with the skills to sustain and advance critical business applications. For the Progress OpenEdge platform, a trusted worldwide solution for its reliability and power, nurturing a new generation of skilled professionals has never been more important.
In Brazil, technology leader TOTVS and the Catholic University of Santa Catarina are taking bold action to close this talent gap. Through a pioneering collaboration, they’re cultivating hands-on expertise, inspiring fresh enthusiasm for software development and shaping the next wave of OpenEdge innovators. It’s a story of partnership, purpose and the power of learning to transform the future of enterprise technology.
At the heart of this initiative lies an intensive OpenEdge Advanced Business Language (ABL) bootcamp consisting of three weeks of immersive training that combines deep technical instruction with practical application. Led by experts from TOTVS’s Research and Development team, the program guided aspiring developers through real-world challenges, reinforcing their understanding of the platform while developing their confidence as programmers.
The response exceeded all expectations. More than 80 students applied for just 42 available spots, underscoring the growing interest in becoming Progress OpenEdge developers among emerging technology professionals. Over the course of the program, participants were introduced not only to the technical foundations of OpenEdge ABL, but also to the collaborative principles and problem-solving mindset that define successful developers today. By the end of the bootcamp, several students were selected to participate in TOTVS projects—turning their training into tangible career opportunities.
Professor Maurício Henning, Coordinator of the Software Engineering program, reflected proudly on the partnership:
“It was a great satisfaction for us to consolidate this collaboration with TOTVS. The bootcamp was a real success. During the June break, our students dedicated themselves fully, and several were later selected to work on TOTVS projects. This kind of initiative connects academic potential with the professional world and creates real impact.”
For the students, the experience was equally transformative. Flavia Antonieli de Souza, a Software Engineering undergraduate, shared her excitement about the hands-on learning:
“The Progress 4GL [4th-generation programming language] immersion was incredible. We had 15 days full of rich content and interactive sessions. Learning the entire system development process showed me how relevant and powerful this language is in the market.”
Their words capture the spirit of what makes this initiative so inspiring: education and industry joining together to create opportunity and growth.
From the perspective of Progress, this initiative is both inspiring and instructive. It shows what’s possible when technology providers, industry leaders and universities join forces to foster continuous learning and talent cultivation. TOTVS’s approach to OpenEdge education highlights a sustainable model, one rooted in mentorship, opportunity and community connection.
This partnership also illustrates a universal truth: Technology ecosystems thrive not only through product innovation, but also through people who believe in their potential. By creating pathways for students to learn, build and contribute, programs like this facilitate the OpenEdge solution’s legacy to remain dynamic, relevant and ready for the future.
The collaboration between TOTVS and the Catholic University of Santa Catarina embodies the spirit of the OpenEdge community—empowering others through knowledge and shaping the developers of tomorrow. It’s a model of what can be achieved when education, enterprise and passion converge.
For the future of the Progress OpenEdge community, the message is clear—the next generation of innovation is already taking shape. And with leaders like TOTVS forging the path, the future looks more promising than ever.
Jessica (Malakian) Newton
Jessica (Malakian) Newton is a Senior Product Marketing Specialist at Progress, focused on the Progress OpenEdge product. Jessica started her career at Progress as an intern in 2020 and has since developed into a full-time marketer, dedicated to guiding customers on how to maximize the value of their OpenEdge solutions. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys reading and writing.
