Entrepreneurship – key to success Erasmus Project

Project Title

Entrepreneurship – key to success

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cooperation between educational institutions and business; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

The Erasmus + project “Entrepreneurship as the key to success” was implemented in two years by cooperation of schools from Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania and Bulgaria and it was aimed at young people aged 15-20.
The partners carried out the same set of educational and research activities in their countries.
The results of the work were presented at 6 meetings (Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania) with representatives of all partner countries present. They were carried out in the form of week-long meetings of students with teachers.
The project included the mobility of 141 students and 62 teachers.

Each meeting had a following theme:
1. How to be entrepreneurial?
2. Being an entrepreneur.
3. Marketing activities.
4. Business management.
5. The consumer and his rights.
6. Entrepreneur and consumer in ecological Europe.
The aim of the project activities was to shape entrepreneurial attitudes of young people and for them to acquire knowledge about establishing and running their own business.
They learnt how to set up their own company and how to manage it effectively. We used the simulation game and the latest “Design thinking” design method currently used in business. Students learnt how to finance the activities of small and medium enterprises and how to construct a business plan, what are consumer rights and how to act ecologically as an entrepreneur and consumer.
They learned effective methods of applying for a job, preparing documents, such as CVs and got to know topics related to career counseling. We prepared students to enter the European labor market with knowledge of which skills are their strengths and how they can develop them. We increased their motivation for professional improvement and taught them how to overcome their own weaknesses and show their strengths. This was especially beneficial for those who are in a difficult life situation and who interrupted their education early. We developed soft skills (verbal and non-verbal communication, self-presentation, creativity, negotiation techniques).
We visited enterprises and institutions dealing with entrepreneurship in partner countries. There were workshops with a professional actor on self-presentation, a meeting with a vocational counselor and with employees of companies. We promoted our own country and region, as well as an active and ecological lifestyle and business. The project activities allowed us to develop innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and shape social and civic attitudes among young people and teachers. We introduced modern methods of economic education, in project methods, gamification, games simulating the operation of companies, surveys, experimental research, creation of films, product presentations and prototypes, interviews.
The use of active methods of work and the implementation of project topics prepared young people for exams, enabled them to acquire skills useful in professional life and encouraged their own development.
It increased their attractiveness on the European labor market, reducing the level of unemployment and positively influencing the development of the sector of small and medium enterprises in their own region.
Cooperation with foreign peers, joint project activities, conducting workshops and exercises by students increased their motivation to learn foreign languages, familiarized them with the culture and customs of partner countries, and helped them overcome mutual prejudices and shape attitudes of tolerance.
Working in international teams, planning and organizing activities and the need to present results on the forum enabled the practical use of foreign languages, computer technology and allowed the students to get rid of stage fright and effective self-presentation.
The participants of the partner meetings received the Europass Mobility certificate. They have become more mobile, adaptable and confident. Working abroad or running a company abroad is now an attainable goal for them. The project involved local institutions (city representatives, entrepreneurs, employees of institutions involved in shaping entrepreneurial attitudes), which resulted in changes in curricula that can be adapted to the current requirements of the labor market. There were promotion of schools and associated partners abroad and a new project has already been created in cooperation with foreign partners. After each meeting, joint products resulting from participants’ activities were created, and they are available on the websites. Project activities were systematically evaluated and promoted in local environments by students and teachers.

Project Website

https://entrepreneurshipthekeytosuccess.zyrosite.com/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 166682,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

Zespol Szkol Administracyjno-Ekonomicznych & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Liceul Tehnologic
• SOFIA VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF TOURISM
• ISTITUTO DI ISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE “GIORDANO BRUNO”
• Hanse-Schule für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung
• INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA SAN ISIDORO