European Region Entrepreneurship Connection – EFEB Network Erasmus Project

Project Title

European Region Entrepreneurship Connection – EFEB Network

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

EFEB Network’s main objective is to train, mentor and develop the entrepreneurship skills of women entrepreneurs involving them in VET partnership with great potential for development and raising the public awareness, supporting women empowerment and providing new economic and social opportunities for a prosperous European Region. In this respect, among the project’s proposal main tasks is to enhance the new skills education and to create a climate that is favorable to increasing the number of women entrepreneurs and the size of the women-led businesses and new jobs. Furthermore, the project proposal aims at promoting the gender equity stressing out the importance of a strong women social entrepreneurship sector and at implementing activities focusing on motivational support to women entrepreneurs through education, information, training, good practices.
The aim of EFEB Network is the establishment of a strong partnership in the field of educational development, training and support activities in the area of female entrepreneurship and especially in the ground of social entrepreneurship, eco-innovation and digital economy. The participating organizations are divided into groups, depending on their basic objectives of work: educational institutions, SMEs, Associations supporting female entrepreneurship.
Presented as an individual’s ability to turn ideas into actions, entrepreneurship has evolved over time to embrace creativity, innovation and risk-taking, as well as the ability to set-up and run a business.
Entrepreneurship is now considered as a key competence for all which should be promoted at all levels of education (from primary school to university) as well as through lifelong learning. The European Commission has adopted two framework documents highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship education and training: in November 2012 a new strategy on education and training entitled “Rethinking Education” and, in January 2013, an Entrepreneurship Action Plan. The Commission notably invites Member States to reinforce entrepreneurship education at all levels and to strengthen the links between education and employers. The European Parliament, which in 2006 Recommendation had recognized the sense of initiative and entrepreneurship as one of the key competencies for lifelong learning, has since then supported entrepreneurship education in several resolutions.
EFEB Network project is closely oriented to the main objectives of the European policies and expresses the following long-term aims:
• Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality – progress is needed in the implementation of lifelong learning strategies, the development of national qualifications frameworks linked to the European Qualifications Framework and more flexible learning pathways in the field of social entrepreneurship. Mobility should be expanded and the European Quality Charter for Mobility should be applied;
• Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training – experts need to be able to acquire key competencies and all levels of education and training need to be made more attractive and efficient;
• Enhancing creativity and innovation, including social entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training – the acquisition of transversal competences by experts from different countries should be promoted and the functioning of the knowledge triangle (education-research-innovation) should be ensured. Partnerships between enterprises and educational institutions as well as broader learning communities with civil society and other stakeholders should be promoted
EFEB Network project answers to the needs of adult training education, following the rules of the Erasmus+ program and related to the following main topics:
• Place a stronger focus on higher and more relevant skills (Rethinking Education) in the field of female entrepreneurship
• Create a strengthen links between education/training, mobility and the labor market aiming at reducing unemployment
• Adapting to internalization trends through exchanging of best practices
• Ensuring overall coherence of tools and policies in all participating countries

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 142517,4 Eur

Project Coordinator

Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs (S.E.G.E.), & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Georgian association”Women in Business:”
• WESTFALISCHE HOCHSCHULE GELSENKIRCHEN, BOCHOLT, RECKLINGHAUSEN
• Esteem
• INNOGATE TO EUROPE CONSULTORIA DE PROYECTOS EUROPEOS SL
• VsI Socialiniu inovaciju centras
• NGO Agricola
• BALTIJAS JURAS REGIONA KLASTERU EKSPERTI