Blended Learning Design Methodology for Education in Green Entrepreneurship at Secondary Schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Blended Learning Design Methodology for Education in Green Entrepreneurship at Secondary Schools

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: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

The GREENT project (full name: “Blended Learning Design Methodology for Education in Green Entrepreneurship at Secondary Schools”) is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU. It attempts to offer a long-term solution to a key pan-European challenge, related to the development of the green mindset of future generations of entrepreneurs and the need for transformation of the EU economy into a green and circular one.

There are several issues defining the world today and they are likely to define the life of future generations too. Among these are climate change, the depletion of natural resources, air pollution, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, degradation of soils, and others. Exploring the reasons for them and the possible solutions from an entrepreneurial standpoint is at the heart of the GREENT project.

The mission of GREENT is to create educational tools that support teachers in fostering a “sustainability-conscious entrepreneurial mindset” in their high school students. That mindset includes all the features of the entrepreneurial mindset (tolerance to risk and uncertainty, ability to accept failure and learn from it, self-directed learning, bias toward action, intentional curiosity and creative confidence), but viewed through the prism of a sustainability mindset characterized by holistic thinking, an environmental and social ethic that respects the value of all living things, responsible consumption, cooperation and teamwork, full-cost accounting, democracy, and adherence to the precautionary principle.

The main aim of the project is to bridge the “gap” in the European educational systems between the need for new green skills for green jobs and entrepreneurship and the lack of adequate educational content for the development of such skills through an innovative training course for teachers in delivering green entrepreneurship education, utilizing blended learning methodology.

Five organizations from the JA Europe network partnered in the successful implementation of the project: JA Bulgaria, SEN/JA Greece, JA Romania, Ungt Entreprenorskap Sogn og Fjordane (Norway), and JA Latvia. They have a strong track record in entrepreneurship education and are experienced in research, creating and delivering educational content, forming and maintaining effective networks of schools, teachers and students, as well as in collaborating strategically with public authorities in increasing the outreach of learning-by-doing digitalized programs. A strong feature of the consortium is the close relationship with the corporate sector and the extensive experience in making effective connections between schools and businesses in the form of mentorship, guest lectures, etc.

The main activities undertaken in the project were:

1) Desk research (http://greentproject.eu/2017/05/05/io1-desk-research-report/)
2) Development of GREENT syllabus (http://greentproject.eu/2017/05/05/io2-green-entrepreneurship-syllabus/)
3) Development of blended learning methodology (http://greentproject.eu/2017/05/05/io3-blended-learning-methodology-in-green-entrepreneurship/)
4) Creation of GREENT sample lessons
5) Creation of full set of lessons and teacher manual in green entrepreneurship (http://greentproject.eu/2017/05/05/io5-full-set-of-green-entrepreneurship-lessons/)
6) Translation of developed materials into the partners’ languages
7) Testing the sample and finalized lessons and delivering testing reports (http://greentproject.eu/2017/05/05/io6-testing-reports/)
8) Pilot delivery in the classroom and consolidated report to summarize the results (http://greentproject.eu/2017/09/25/io7-reports-from-piloting/)
9) Multiplier events – innovation camps in green entrepreneurship (http://greentproject.eu/category/events/).
10) Final international conference (http://greentproject.eu/2017/09/30/the-greent-final-international-conference-inspired-all-participants-for-a-more-sustainable-life/)

The most significant impacts from the project are:

Teachers learned how to utilize new content (green entrepreneurship), methods (blended learning) and tools (online education platforms) to deliver high quality education. Furthermore, they improved their digital competences and their understanding for the demands of greening the economy.
High school students developed green entrepreneurial mindsets, which improved their entrepreneurship, digital and language competences.

A further testament to the significance of the GREENT project is the fact that it received the prestigious “Collaboration Award” during the Global Leadership Conference of JA Worldwide which was held in Atlanta, USA, in July 2017.

Longer-term benefits are related to proving the appropriateness of delivering the topic of green entrepreneurship in European high schools and laying the foundation for a broader future uptake of innovative approaches, techniques and content related to circular economy and sustainable business.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 191315 Eur

Project Coordinator

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BULGARIA FOUNDATION & Country: BG

Project Partners

• Ungt Entreprenørskap Sogn og Fjordane
• SOMATEIO EPIXEIRIMATIKOTITA NEON/ JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT GREECE
• JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-YOUNG ENTERPRISE LATVIJA
• ASOCIATIA JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ROMANIA