Internationales Jungunternehmertum und Außenwirtschaft im Unterricht(International Youth Entrepreneurship and foreign trade in education) Erasmus Project

Project Title

Internationales Jungunternehmertum und Außenwirtschaft im Unterricht(International Youth Entrepreneurship and foreign trade in education)

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

-The project International Youth Entrepreneurship and Foreign Trade in Education had focus in particular on an interlinking of school education and vocational training in an European context, and on an academic preparation and certification of “Entrepreneurship in Foreign Trade”, respectively.
-Participants due to this project’s regional and supra-regional relevance, there were, next to the two business schools from two programme countries (GER, CZ), also school administrations, trade associations, commercial chambers and teachers education institutes (VISK) involved.
– Project objectives for Learners (primary target group) Competencies were Support/additional qualification in vocational education, assistance in reaching Independence, enhance knowledge of cross-cultural, economic and social competencies. For teachers (secondary target group): enhance knowledge of cross-cultural, economic and ICT competencies
– Main activities: developing and testing of lesson units and materials. Provision of curriculum based on “examples of good practise”. Publication of project results Implementation. Two products (intellectual output) were created in two working phases, leading in school level 11/12/13 (upper level classrooms) 1.) “joint lesson series on foreign trade” and 2.) “International Youth Entrepreneurship”.
1a) First year: development/mediation of basic economical terminologies and contexts, commercial law, fields of accounting, cost accounting, tax and staffing issues. Practise-orientated supplementary teaching by interlinking virtual “training companies” on an international Level. Comparison of teaching materials/worksheets and best-practise in two learning-/teaching sessions. Determination of teaching units (German/English) for a joint Module 1 “business administration” • Verifiability standards for the first part of the “foreign trade” • Preparation of a joint lesson series on business-related learning areas, based on existing experience and materials from country-specific perspectives. 1b) Second year: training companies decided on a regional product which they virtually trade, business transactions are carried out virtually, however, by use of realistic forms and under realistic Terms. In two further learning-/teaching sessions materials were aligned, bundled into best-practise teaching units and summed up in German/English to a second module “foreign trade”. Within the learning/teaching sessions: visits to customs and tax offices, companies and chambers of commerce, where explanations were given on forms and processes relating to foreign trade. Company managers got invited to schools where they answered questions and took part in discussions (Boss day). Use of a simulation programme for management decisions (TOP SIM). Second module concentrated on economic basics, European single market, global economy, economic cycle and growth, money, currencies and state Budgets.
– Results/effects:
We created a brochure including 80 pages, the brochure documents all project activities, as well as learning units and lesson plans created in both participating countries, oriented at business forms, payment transfer, star-ups, conditions of duties and customs, local market, inclusive tests. Moreover, 40 certificates of young enterpreneurs have been issued as enclosures of leaving certificates. The participants include more than 100 students on both sides, more that 20 involved teachers, 10 events organised outside participating schools, 30 more teachers interested in ERASMUS programmes, more than 15 newspaper articles. 60 Czech teachers took part in courses for in-service teachers organised by the project partner VISK. 20 freelancers or firms took part in information events realised by the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
One Czech student became a freelancer and started a business, a school canteen at which food can be ordered and paid trough an App. Other students confirmed in a survey that they do not refuse the idea to become freelancers in the future and thanks to this project, they feel it easier to realise this idea.
– Long term benefits: The relationship of all partners in the districts Birkenfeld and Middle Bohemia will be sustainably well preserved in future in subjects of Education, Economy and Culture.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 136567,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

Landkreis Birkenfeld & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Stredocesky kraj
• Okresni hospodarska komora v Pribrami
• Industrieverband Schmuck- und Metallwaren Idar-Oberstein e. V.
• Berufsbildende Schule Idar-Oberstein Harald Fissler Schule
• Bundesverband der Edelstein- und Diamantindustrie e. V.
• Vzdelavaci institut Stredoceskeho kraje
• Obchodni akademie a Vyssi odborna skola, Pribram I, Na Prikopech 104