Page 44 - guidance-supporting-europe-s-aspiring-entrepreneurs-policy-and-practice-to-harness-future-potential

Guidance supporting Europe’s aspiring entrepreneurs
Policy and practice to harness future potential

employment can lead to success and that they can start-up their own business
venture if they wish.
The Oslo agenda for entrepreneurship education sought to promote
entrepreneurial mindsets in society through education and learning, in particular
by fostering entrepreneurial mindsets of young people through education at all
levels, from primary school to university. It is a detailed catalogue of actions that
national policy-makers can choose from and adapt to their particular
circumstances (European Commission, 2006b and 2006c). As part of its
activities, a European conference on entrepreneurship education was held in
Oslo in October 2006 to exchange experiences and good practices, and to
discuss how to move forward in promoting entrepreneurship education more
systematically, based on concrete evidence and recommendations.
The ‘Think small first’ principle of the Small Business Act for Europe
(European Commission, 2008b) recommends that entrepreneurship is introduced
as a key competence in school curricula, that entrepreneurship is part of teacher
training and that cooperation between education and businesses and non-profit
organisations is increased to bring in content and practice from business life.
The economic crisis and the resulting high levels of unemployment across
Europe have further emphasised the need for sustainable job creation and for
increased EU competitiveness in the face of strong international competition for
jobs and markets. The European Economic Recovery Plan 2008 highlights the
need to encourage entrepreneurship as a way of supporting economic growth
and promoting active inclusion by reintegrating unemployed workers back into
the labour market (European Commission, 2008b). The recent EU
communication on a shared commitment for employment (European
Commission, 2009a) also promotes entrepreneurship education as a key aspect
in supporting unemployed individuals and young people to set up their own
business or micro-enterprise.
The 2009 Council Conclusions on a strategic framework for European
cooperation in education and training (‘ET 2020’) quote ‘enhancing creativity and
innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training’ as
one of its key strategic objectives (Council of the European Union, 2009). The
framework states that innovation and creativity are critical for enterprise
development and the EU’s international competitiveness. Moreover, partnership
between the world of enterprise and different levels and sectors of education,
training and research can help to ensure better focus on the skills and
competences required in the labour market and on fostering innovation and
entrepreneurship in all forms of learning.

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