Entrepreneurship as a platform for communication, language development and cultural understanding Erasmus Project

Project Title

Entrepreneurship as a platform for communication, language development and cultural understanding

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: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND:
The partners in this project are two secondary high schools; Malmö Borgarskola in southern Sweden and Scuola Imiberg in northern Italy. The background to the project is that one of the big challenges for the EU and its member states, is to maintain the economic growth in our part of the world and to ensure that our countries obtain continuing wealth to the good of all people living in the EU. This is being done by international collaboration and by having an open minded attitude to creative, innovative and sustainable partnerships on different levels by institutions, companies and individuals. The labour market of today and tomorrow requires not only different professional skills, but also flexibility, mobility, communication skills and an open mindset to other people. According to the EU2020 goals, an increased employment rate is one of the main priorities for the EU. Since the unemployment rate among youth in Sweden and Italy is higher than in other age groups, increased employability and career opportunities are important objectives for our schools and communities. This includes, for instance, well developed entrepreneurial skills as well as language skills, which provides possibilities for the students of geographical and social mobility. Strengthening entrepreneurial skills, skills in English and other foreign languages, are also important national educational goals in Sweden and in Italy. Another important reason for organizing this project, is to strengthen the knowledge among the students and other stakeholders about the core EU values of collaboration across borders for a better future for countries as well as individuals and all the opportunities the EU provides for its citizens. This is especially important today, as the common European project is being disputed, and the support for the fundamental ideas are being questioned in many member states. By this project, we want to inspire other schools and teachers in our countries and in the EU to collaborate across the borders.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:
All students will have basic skills in entrepreneurship and know how to start up a company. They will also know how companies expand into foreign markets and about international marketing. They will also have practice and first-hand experience of selling and meeting customers and collaborate with peers and business partners from different cultural backgrounds. Another goal is to increase the students’ self-confidence and ability of communicating in English freely in various situations. The schools will exchange examples of good practice of entrepreneurship and language education in order to inspire colleagues and other schools to have cross-disciplinary collaboration and international projects.
NUMBER AND PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS:
In total, 64 Swedish and 30 Italian students (age of 16-17 years old) will be directly involved in the project. Other participants will be the principals and experienced subject teachers in English and Business/Economics.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGY:
By using the educational model of Junior Achievement (JA), the students will learn about how to start and run their own mini-companies. The mini-companies will be the foundation for the work and for language development during the project. The international dimension will be added through frequent interaction in English on specific themes (e.g. business plans, marketing, product development) between students in Italy and Sweden on Skype and eTwinning. During the exchanges, the students will participate in company visits and learn more about manufacturing and international marketing by senior professionals in international organizations/companies in Italy and Sweden. They will also sell their products at trade fairs and practice communication in English in various professional business related situations and everyday conversations.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
The expected results are an in-depth understanding among the students of how to run a modern company in an international context as EU and how to use the business opportunities created by international collaboration. They will have a readiness for team work and cooperation with people with different backgrounds and an increased self-confidence and ability in terms of communicating in English. Awareness about EU projects will increase in our communities.
POTENTIAL LONG-TERM RESULTS
The project in Entrepreneurship and Language development, can be a model of cross-disciplinary collaboration at our schools and other institutions. It can be a step stone for further cooperation between our schools, like in other foreign languages (Italian, Spanish) or Social Sciences. For participating teachers, the project will result in professional development. The project is also a very important component in the schools’ long-term internationalization strategies and encourage global mindedness among students and staff.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 63866 Eur

Project Coordinator

Malmö Borgarskola & Country: SE

Project Partners

• IMIBERG s.c.r.l.