Engaging Young Entrepreneurs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Engaging Young Entrepreneurs

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: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

The rationale of this innovative project, ENGAGING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, is to open the minds of pupils in primary schools to the joy of entrepreneurship at a time in their lives when they are full of imagination and open to new possibilities. The project will provide pupils with a set of skills that they need that will enhance their future employability. These pupils are the target group of this project as we encourage them not to be early- school leavers. This project has significant personal development impact on participating pupils, building confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem and an appreciation of individual skills and talents. We aim to reach out to 1600 pupils within the 3 year project. Pupils will learn and utilise a range of skills through the activities that have been planned:A1- Knowing me, Knowing YouA2-Opening the Door to EntrepreneurshipA3- Exploring New IdeasA4- A Business Visitor in the ClassroomA5- Will the Idea Work?A6- Roles and ResponsibilitiesA7- Making It All HappenA8- Showcase Days in SchoolA9- Reflections and FindingsThis project works, it is creative and innovative and it captures the imaginations of those that take part. It is more than a traditional method of entrepreneurship education were the children listen to their teacher and make notes on business. The children will be in charge of their own business- they will conduct their own market research, create surveys, graphs, analyse data, create posters and e-journals, document the process on iPads as they go, decide on a product and think about its pros and cons, they will sell the product and work out costings and profit. The children will always be critically reflecting on their work and they complete the business process. As a result of the project, children will be enthused about business. They will consider owning a business as a career and to do this they will need to stay in school. Our project addresses the issue of early school leaving and under-achievement in Mathematics, Science and Literacy and this is what makes it an innovative project. The aims and objectives of the project are as follows:• Emphasise the importance of independent, creative and critical thinking, learning and reflective practice within a school setting.• Support teachers’ delivery of entrepreneurship education within the Primary School Curriculum.• Provide teachers with an opportunity to put entrepreneurship education into practice through practical activities.• Raise awareness of entrepreneurship in pupils to identify their own unique skills and talents, recognise the value of other pupils’ skill sets and appreciate how to make the most of their combined skills and talents through teamwork.• Foster links between home, school, the local and wider community and local businesses through pupil engagement in the entrepreneurship education processes.• Instil confidence, self-esteem and independence in the pupils.In the applicant school the head teacher and Senior Leadership Team are accomplished facilitators in staff development and training in data analysis and target setting. Best practice will be modeled and shared across all the partners through their own areas of expertise.Our results both tangiable and intangiable will be shared at local, national and at regional levels through document downloads on the shared website, through the creation of new Literacy and Maths techniques/resources, through reports sent to each partner schools National Agencies and by the mini companies and entrepreneurial products each country will set up. The results will be increased academic standards in Literacy and Mathematics, increased skills in ICT, Science and Technology and combating early school leaving by showing how fun school can be.This project allows sustainability with the outcomes we hope to achieve. When funding finishes we believe that the interpersonal relationships already established between staff through the preparation of this application in the partner schools will continue to develop and ensure that there is ongoing co-operation and contact. We aim to make this project last for at least a further 2 years after funding has finished. We wish to build upon the new skills and ideologies that we have learned and filter them through our school systems.The leadership of each school is very committed to European co-operation and have agreed that relationships will be sustained as a priority for future planning and school development plans.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 101940 Eur

Project Coordinator

St. Brigid’s Primary School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Istituto comprensivo ” XX Settembre”
• Szkola Podstawowa nr 2 im sw Wojciecha
• Osnovna skola Glina
• C.E.I.P. Victoria Díez
• Grunnskólinn á Bakkafirði