Entrepreneurship to become more important in education curricula

The Commission is proposing to introduce
entrepreneurship into the national curriculum from primary school
to university. The idea is to foster entrepreneurial mindsets
through school education.

The Commission thinks education can play a crucial role in
promoting the entrepreneurial spirit. This is part of the Lisbon
target to make the EU the most competitive economy in the world by
2010. 

At the end of July 2004, the Commission published details of the
key aspects of its entrepreneurship action plan. One of the five
key actions is to foster entrepreneurial mindsets through school
education. The long-term policy objectives are to: 

• introduce entrepreneurship into the national (or regional)
  curriculum at all levels of formal education (from primary school
  to university), either as a horizontal aspect or as a specific
  topic 
• train and motivate teachers to engage in entrepreneurial
  education 
• promote the application of programmes based on ‘learning by
  doing’, for instance by means of project work, virtual firms and
  mini-companies, etc… 
• involve entrepreneurs and local companies in the design and
  running of entrepreneurship courses and activities 
• increase the teaching of entrepreneurship within higher
  education outside economic and business courses, notably at
  scientific and technical universities and putting emphasis on
  setting up companies in the curricula of business-type studies at
  universities   

JADE, the European Confederation of Junior Enterprise, believes
that it is important to support existing entrepreneurship among
young people, especially through junior entreprises. JADE President
Dilek Ayhan emphasises that “on top of being taught about
entrepreneuship, young people need to practise and to be trusted
when taking responsibilities”. From 29 September to 3 October, JADE
will organise a conference in Brussels on entrepreneurial
education. Governments’ representatives, NGOs and entrepreneurs
will explore ways to promote entrepreneurial experience among young
people. The aim is also to develop an entrepreneurial culture and
to encourage more and more young people to start their own
business. 

Read more with Euractiv

EU funding for business access to 'tomorrow's internet'

The Commission is funding twelve European projects that aim to bring powerful 'grid' technology from research labs to a wider business use.