Natural spaces: Entrepreneurial Green Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Natural spaces: Entrepreneurial Green Europe

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment

Project Summary

This project has centered on two important issues: youth unemployment and sustainable use of natural resources as a source of wealth and career oppportunities in local areas. These are two really important problems in 21st century, especially in the participating countries; in fact, Greece, Spain and Italy show the highest rates of unemployment in Europe, whereas in Poland the problem is linked to extremely hard working conditions. On the other hand, these four countries have a wide range of natural resources, which are being used or could be used to contribute to economic growth; however, we are convinced that we should reflect on how to use them in a sustainable way. Raising awareness among young people and teaching them how to do so in a collaborative way will surely contribute to face the challenges mentioned before.
The project aims are:
a) To promote entrepreneurship and foster cooperation in the field of education (practical entrepreneurial experiences in education, training and youth work)
b) To raise awareness about European natural wealth and the possibilities of a green & sustainable economy within and beyond the European regions
c) To improve the communicative competence of our students as a means to foster mobilities and access to better employment opportunities, given the present situation in the participating countries and areas
d) To promote digital competence
e)To develop intercultural competence and key skills through innovation and a multidisciplinary approach
f) To promote autonomous learning and a to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, providing students with the skills and stretagies necessary to develop their own company
Given these aims, the four schools involved (I Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace, IISS Cipolla-Pantaleo-Gentile , 2º Epaggelmatiko Lykrio Evosmous and IES P. Jiménez Montoya) have joined their efforts to work transnationally and share their knowledge, expertise and resources in the following areas:
How to prepare students to design their own businesses. How to make them aware of the opportunities offered by natural environment in terms of ecomomic wealth and employment. How to promote entrepreneurship among young people. How to improve foreign language competence as well as digital skills. Each of them has contributed with their experience:
IES Pedro Jiménez Montoya, a Spanish high school located in Baza (Granada), offers general Secondary and Vocational Education andTtraining to over 800 pupils and it is situated close to a Natural Park.
2º Epaggelmatiko Lykeio Evosmou , is a Greek VET school located in Evosmos ( Tessaloniki), willing to improve the employment opportunities of their students developing entrepreneurial skills
IISS Cipolla-Pantaleo-Gentile is an Italian Secondary School located in Castelvetrano ( Sicily), a rich area in terms of natural resources and archaeological remains, but with a high dependence on imports and work abroad.
I Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace, a Polish High School located in Grudzjadz, a developing area with a great human and economic potential on the Vistula river.
The project has been divided into four main blocks:
Where do I live? Getting to know the area where we live in order to learn about the opportunities which this area, its resources and culture bring to us and also to become aware of the business needs existing in this place. Besides, getting to know those natural resources to be able to protect them, to understand them and meet their necessities
What are the rules and regulations? To learn about how to start a business meeting law regulations in each of the participating countries, focusing on the field of natural resources and areas. And linked to this, we find the question about the steps to be given to start a business. In this case, the use of the business model CANVAS helps to analyze the features of successful companies (their key resources, key activities, customer segments, revenues, cost, channels, value proposition, etc.)
Finally, it is important to notice that the main outcome of this project was not really to create more job opportunities in the areas involved, or to change the use of natural resources and make it more sustainable. The result has not been to start a company either, although students have learnt how to do it and they have succeeded in designing their own companies. The actual outcome has been the path we have walked together to raise awareness about those two serious issues and how to face them.
The impact of the project can be seen at a school level ( changes and improvements in organization and methodological practices) and also at a local and regional level (dissemination of the project to other schools).
The benefits of the project itself cannot be measured at present, but we are convinced that it will contribute to more active European citizens, able to take sustainable decisions, work collaboratively and find innovative solutions to world problems.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 85940 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES PEDRO JIMÉNEZ MONTOYA & Country: ES

Project Partners

• 2o Epaggelmatiko Lykeio Evosmou
• I Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace
• IISS Cipolla-Pantaleo-Gentile