School companies Erasmus Project

Project Title

School companies

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Creativity and culture; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

The basis of the project was that according to schools’ curriculum analysis in all four schools children were learning entrepreneurship but in some schools this subject was part of curriculum (Austria, Germany, Romania) and in one of them children were learning it in a school club (Poland). All teachers involved in the project agreed that students
on learning connected with practice and after asking students they decided that that school companies would focus on local/regional food (Germany, Romania, Poland) and crafts (Austria-self-made products of metal or plastic, Poland-Kashubian pottery and embroidery, Romania-trinkets, masks, encrusted eggs). Most of the students had to choose their professional path at the end of the project so they were interested in labor market needs and local business. The main aim of the project was to start up a company in each school. 90 students (Austria-15, Germany-25, Poland-25, Romania-25) started four school businesses (one in each school) and ran it till the end of the project and after that. Students got practice and financial literacy. The same number of students created objects during the project and after that (Austria-products of metal and plastic, Germany-cooking book with recipes in different languages, Poland-ceramic pots, vases and tablecloths, Romania-trinkets, masks, encrusted eggs) and local /regional food (Poland and Romania). The products weren’t sold during the project. Students learnt how to estimate the cost of production, the profit margin and selling price etc. but accountancy was only virtual. The products will be sold after the end of the project (in September 2018) and the money will be used as start-up capital for continuation of running the companies after the end of the project. During the project 12 students (3 from each school) wrote articles for an e-book about process of starting school companies in each country ‘How to start a company’ introduction; short profiles of all students and teachers involved in the project; short description of our countries; short description of our regions; information about schools; information about our companies and its products, description of food or crafts. In May 2018, 25 e-books were printed by Romanian school and they were sent to other schools and local institutions as a way to disseminate the project results. During the project 12 students (3 from each school) made four presentations(one from each school) about the process of starting a company. During the project 12 students (3 from each school) made four presentations (one from each school) about the process of making products. Articles, presentation and films were uploaded on eTwinning platform and on project website. In June 2017 and in June 2018 12 students (3 from each school) prepared photo exhibitions about the progress of project and present it in a local cultural or educational centres or in a libraries.
During the project 66 students who travelled to partner countries learnt about its lifestyle through food and crafts which were the main topics of the project but also by staying with the families and taking part in everyday life. At least 26 teachers broadened their knowledge about methodology of teaching entrepreneurship by comparing and contrasting their methods with those used by teachers in partner countries. During the project 90 students (13 – 18 years old) learnt how to start a company in their own and other countries and were able to compare and contrast this process in different countries They were open-minded and eager to learn new competences. They learnt English in everyday situations.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 88500 Eur

Project Coordinator

Samorzadowy Zespol Szkol w Kostkowie & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Regionales Berufliches Bildungszentrum des Landkreises Vorpommern-Rügen
• Colegiul Agricol si de Industrie Alimentara “Vasile Adamachi
• HTBLA Wolfsberg