Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship is one of the eight key competences for lifelong learning defined by the European Union. Contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurship is much more than just starting a business. Entrepreneurship is ‘a competence, which applies to all spheres of life: from nurturing personal development, to actively participating in society, to (re)entering the job market as – an employee or as a self-employed person, and also to starting up ventures’ (EntreComp: The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework). Entrepreneurial learning is developing the skills for life and employment. It refers to an individual’s ability to identify and seize opportunities, turn ideas into action, and to plan and manage processes to achieve objectives.

Teachers need to have a clear understanding of entrepreneurship and different ways how to encourage it within their classrooms. Eurydice report Entrepreneurship Education at School had indicated that more than half of European countries allocate both national and EU funding to entrepreneurship education. However, the study showed low levels of participation in practical entrepreneurial learning at school and a need for further development of young people’s problem-solving skills.

This course is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to create an entrepreneurial classroom that fosters creativity, innovation, teamwork and critical thinking. Building entrepreneurial skills involves student-led learning with the teacher as guide.

Teachers will learn about various strategies for creating an environment that promotes entrepreneurial thinking and behavior, including design thinking and lean startup methodologies.

Participants will learn how to design curriculum that integrates entrepreneurial thinking and problem-solving into their lesson plans. They will also explore the role of technology in promoting innovation in the classroom, particulary project management tools – important to help organising business but also most recent and basic ICT tools that can be used by students as well as  teachers in their every day life. Special emphasis will be placed on the entrepreneurial skills derived from EntreComp – The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EC) and suggested ways how they can be fostered and encouraged in schools.

The course will include theoretical lectures, group discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities. It is based on problem-based approach involving group activities, peer work and individual work, as well as experience comparisons. Our methodological approach involves an interactive participation, it is highly practical (learning by doing) and derived from the methods used and tested out in our professional youth work practice, collaborative projects and our teaching experience. Our expertise is also derived from our entrepreneurial experience, but also from our experience of working with youth as youth business mentors and internship providers.