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European expert NETwork established to increase uptake of entrepreneurship education in Europe

A new initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship education and make policy recommendations that can be put into effect by national school systems. The European Entrepreneurship Education NETwork (EE-HUB.EU) will exchange information and experience, improving and creating synergies between the many initiatives in the field.

50 experts from more than 20 countries are forming an advisory group to politicians and the EU institutions.  The EE-HUB.EU will engage in outreach and awareness activities as well as policy recommendations across several work streams that include national strategies, partnerships with business, support for teachers and the role of regional authorities. 

The European Commission’s communication Entrepreneurship 2020 states that every young person should have an entrepreneurial experience before they finish school. While much is already being done across Europe, entrepreneurship education needs to be more systematic and rooted in the school curricula - take place on a larger scale.

“The establishment of the European Entrepreneurship Education NETwork is a further milestone towards a more entrepreneurial Europe. I am confident that this new network hub will help to inspire a change in mindsets, facilitating our readiness for the knowledge society and creating an environment where new ideas can prosper.”Joanna Drake, Director for Entrepreneurship & SMEs, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

The focus areas are national policy development and mobilising teacher training and support. One work stream will focus on how businesses and private associations and organisations can support the uptake of entrepreneurship education.

Throughout Europe, entrepreneurship education is ad-hoc, varying in quantity and quality, often relying on individual teachers’ and schools’ enthusiasm and commitment.   In December 2014, The European Council underlined the importance of developing entrepreneurial skills from an early age and of reinforcing links between the education system and business world, in line with the European Council's call in June, "to promote a climate of entrepreneurship and job creation". Entrepreneurship and education are also priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy. 

Caroline Jenner, CEO of JA-YE Europe (the organisation leading the project) says that, “European stakeholders in this field are extremely committed. The situation is urgent and this is a way to leverage our strengths and work more effectively together. Entrepreneurship education cannot work unless governments and their local business and education communities are acting in close partnership with one another.”

The three-year project will launch on 5 May 2015. The partners are JA-YE

Europe, EUROCHAMBRES (the association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry across 44 countries), SEECEL (South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, based in Croatia), and EUproVET (vocational education specialists). Additional private sector partners include: Cisco, EY, Intel, Microsoft and VISA.

About Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise Europe

JA-YE Europe is Europe’s largest provider of entrepreneurship education programmes, reaching 3.2 million students in 39 countries in 2014. Funded by businesses, institutions, foundations and individuals, JA-YE brings the public and private sectors together to provide young people in primary and secondary schools and early university with experiences that promote the skills, understanding and perspective that they will need to succeed in a global economy. The JA-YE Company Programme is recognised by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General as a ‘Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education’. JA-YE Europe is the European Regional Operating Center for JA Worldwide®

www.ja-ye.org

About EASME 

The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) has been set-up by the European Commission to manage on its behalf several EU programmes, including most of COSME, the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The COSME programme runs from 2014 to 2020 with a planned budget of €2.3bn. COSME will support SMEs in better access to finance; access to markets; supporting entrepreneurs; and creating more favourable conditions for business creation and growth. Under the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan COSME supports best practice in entrepreneurship education in the EU, seeks to improve the business environment so entrepreneurs can grow and flourish, and provides programmes for the mentoring of young people, women or senior entrepreneurs.