-
Home
-
European Projects
-
Innovation Cluster for Entrepreneurship Education
Innovation Cluster for Entrepreneurship Education
Start date: Feb 1, 2015,
End date: Jan 31, 2018
PROJECT
FINISHED
To arrive at our collective European goal which is that every young person should have a practical entrepreneurial experience before they leave school, the consortium will test what the scenario looks like at 50% penetration among students between 15 and 20 years old. The consortium will come up with a suggestion for how practical entrepreneurship education experiences could flow from primary to upper secondary in a 'progression model'.Considering the positive indications from studies and the widespread application of mini-companies today, the consortium will use this method as its test-bed. All the ministerial consortium members have a specific focus on entrepreneurship education in their national strategies. Eastern Norway Research Institute specializes in impact research and policy evaluation while the Foundation for Entrepreneurship-Young Enterprise in Denmark and Strossmayer University Croatia are both knowledge centres on entrepreneurial learning which conduct research as well as activity. JA-YE Europe and the national NGO participants are expert practitioners in delivery and brokering partnerships with the community outside schools.Entrepreneurship education was given top billing in the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan released in January 2013: "Investing in entrepreneurship education is one of the highest return investments Europe can make...Whether or not they go on to found businesses or social enterprises, young people who benefit from entrepreneurial learning develop business knowledge and essential skills and attitudes including creativity, initiative, tenacity, teamwork, understanding of risk and a sense of responsibility."The more practical the entrepreneurial experience at school, the more successful it is in meeting these objectives. Mini- companies are cited as highly effective practical entrepreneurial experiences for schools. The highest levels of mini-company penetration (20%) are in the Nordic countries. Thanks to research conducted in Sweden, Norway and Denmark there are many positive indications on the successful achievement of learning outcomes, increased student engagement, self-efficacy, the intent to start a business and longer-term outcomes such as enhanced employability, better earnings, higher start-up rates.The evaluation and research will use multiple methodologies (interviews, surveys, analysis of existing policies/approaches, focus groups, comparative control group methods). The consortium is seeking knowledge about implementation models, hindrances and drivers, criteria and conditions for effective policy and monitoring, transferability, and data regarding multiple outcomes of practical entrepreneurial experiences at school.Several success factors will be examined: the existence of specific national strategies, the nature of content and method, approach to teacher training, quality of partnerships with external actors, extra-curricular activity and visibility for the young participants.