Exploring business differences and similarities to create better entrepreneurship in a united European Climate Erasmus Project

Project Title

Exploring business differences and similarities to create better entrepreneurship in a united European Climate

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Cooperation between educational institutions and business

Project Summary

Our schools want to fully prepare pupils for life and the European labour market by providing high-quality education. Through this project we want to exchange good practices concerning entrepreneurship and English language education. One of the main objectives is exploring business differences and similarities in both countries and within the European framework to boost pupils’ sense of entrepreneurship and improve our entrepreneurship and English language education. Another essential objective is empowering our pupils on a personal level. We have observed that they are often insecure and not self-reliant enough. They have difficulties assessing their own abilities and little faith in themselves. The project will help them broaden their mind and improve their competences and attitudes. We need to support our pupils in acquiring and developing their basic skills and competences, not only with regard to their education and career, but on a personal level as well to ensure they evolve into strong, self-reliant and competent individuals. This project will take them out of their comfort zone and let them experience different educational and entrepreneurial systems in the European framework. This can only be done through the cooperation between our educational institutions and with external partners.
All pupils studying Retail and Marketing & Entrepreneurship in 5th year of secondary education at Instituut Sint-Lutgardis and Economics in post-compulsory education at Institut Jaume Almera will be involved in the project. Of this group of about 45 pupils 38, i.e. 19 of each school, will take part in the exchanges. They are 16 to 19 years old. 3 Belgian and 4 Spanish teachers are in charge of the project. They will be supported by other teachers and staff of both schools. The schools’ staff and the pupils’ parents will participate in various activities and be the host families during the exchanges. Another partner are the local corporations and their umbrella organisations who will teach pupils about the day-to-day running of a business and the process of importing and exporting goods. They are essential since studying their businesses will reveal the differences and similarities concerning entrepreneurship between the two countries. A final partner is the town council, who will welcome the visitors and discuss the town’s politics and assets.
There will be several activities that focus on who the pupils are, matching them to a pupil of the other school and getting to know the other participants, their school, educational system and town better. This will be done by means of videos, presentations and other class assignments. Other activities will focus on the exchange of products and entrepreneurship. The pupils will look for and contact businesses. They will pay preparatory visits to companies, cities and regions to prepare the programme of the exchanges. Moreover, the pupils will make arrangements for the visitors. The assignments will lead to a thorough organisation of transport, accommodation, meals and activities. The activities and mobilities will be evaluated afterwards. In these evaluation activities new methods can be assessed. They will be implemented once the necessary adaptations have been made. The good practices and gathered knowledge will be clustered so these can benefit all members of the schools’ communities.
By studying the differences and similarities concerning entrepreneurship the pupils should gain more insight in the possibilities of entrepreneurship within the European market. The extensive communication with the partners in the English language shall improve their language skills. While they may be insecure at first, they will gain more confidence in their knowledge, competences and language skills since they will work towards a common goal with peers. The various assignments at home and during the exchanges will make them more self-reliant. Their built-up confidence and self-reliance will empower them to take initiative and become more inquisitive, thus exploiting each learning opportunity to the fullest. They will still benefit from this in their future and professional lives. The schools will benefit in the long term because of the exchange of good practices and the expansion of their network with valuable partners. The project will contribute to the implementation of high-quality entrepreneurial and English language education through the produced tools and knowledge. This gained knowledge about best practices and on prompting and improving pupils’ sense of entrepreneurship will help us create more and better learning opportunities for the following generations. The physical products will be the pupils’ portfolios and for teachers files with good practices on entrepreneurship education and learning English in a real life context containing methods and best practices, thus giving teachers the tools for high-quality education and pupils the means to take charge of their own education.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 65934 Eur

Project Coordinator

Instituut Sint-Lutgardis & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Institut Jaume Almera