The aim of WIN² is to develop a school based curricula on secondary school level at partnered schools in Bulgaria, (Handelsgymnasium Varna and Hristo Botev Schule Nikoaleva), Poland (Publiczne Gimnazjum nr 3 in Biała Podlaska and Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących nr 2 im. Adama Mickiewicza in Biała Podlaska) and Germany (Oberschule Osternburg in Oldenburg), focusing in particular on action-orientation and internationalisation linked to the subject of economic education and entrepreneurship education. Introducing school companies is one possible instrument that integrates entrepreneurial thinking into the school curriculum in a methodological-didactic manner, but one that also fits into the wider organisation of the school (e.g. job and study orientation, inclusion, international cooperation). A fundamental argument for this particular approach is the action-oriented learning that is generated within school companies, effectively supporting social and methodological competencies as well as self-driven learning. Pupils can acquire economic skills and knowledge regarding company-internal processes as well as an understanding about a company’s position within the wider structure of the economy, on a regional, national and international level. Furthermore the action-orientated method school company enables to strengthen the learning motivation of pupils including those with learning disabilities by developing personal as well as professional perspectives. Due to the intended link and co-working with regional companies WIN² contributes not only to the school curricula development but also to the economic structure of the participating regions and the transition from school into vocational training and working life. This leads to a win-win situation for both: the schools and the companies. Finally WIN² lends itself as an ideal cross-over between pedagogy and didactic-methods as well as intercultural matters. In detail, the project delivers supporting structures for the following five competences which every teacher and pupil should demonstrate to satisfy the demand of an open, modern school in Europe: • Methodological competency • Practice-orientation national and international • Intercultural competency • Language competency • Media/ICT competency For this purpose, also teachers need to develop the necessary methodological-didactic and entrepreneurial competencies. Therefore the partnered institutions IÖB from Germany (project-coordinator), RODN Rectus from Poland and the Free University of Varna from Bulgaria develop an internet-based teacher training concept „Economic Education Lessons and school companies: Theory and Practice“. The teacher training concept particular emphasize on the didactic combination between the school companies and the subject Economic Education itself, so that a lasting and permanent balance between theory and practice can be achieved. 5 modules including learning and teaching materials will be developed to support the implementation process of building up school companies in 5 schools. Therefore three short term learning activities (5 days long) in Bulgaria, Germany and Poland are integrated into the learning and implementation process: 36 pupils of the school subject Economic Education and 12 teachers will realise a three year lasting pilot phase: 1) First year: developing and start-up with 5 - 6 school companies in Bulgaria, Germany and Poland 2) Second year: internationalisation of the established school companies 3) Third year: sustainability of the international school companies In order to determine the procedures for the validation of learning outcomes of the project participants’ students and teachers, the University of Oldenburg develop an appropriate evaluation tool. A formative quality assurance of the project outcomes is performed by the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Networking, dissemination activities in the current regions of Europe and the participation at an International School Company Fair with integrated workshops as well as recommendations for education policy groups on a regional and national level will ensure a broad impact of the project outcomes. The young Non Profit Organisation Start is Smart mainly fosters the dissemination and networking process of WIN² on regional, national as well international level. The built regional and international network of education institutions, schools and companies make a contribution to the action-and practice-orientated school curricula development in Europe linked to a framework for more internationalisation within the general school system.
Context and Background Structurally weak regions (such as Eastern Poland or Bulgaria) are characterised by the emigration of young people, unemployment among young people is very high in many places (PL: 2017 14.7%) and at the same time there is a lack of specialists. Schools are increasingly under pressure to provide appropriate professional and academic orientation, such as education on entrepreneurship. The development of new concepts and innovative approaches that optimise the school’s curriculum in this respect and prepare young people for the transition to professional life has become a major challenge for those involved in the education system. Objectives For this reason, the Win² project’s main focus is on the question of what contribution the founding and international networking of student companies can have in terms of objectives in the educational context. It was necessary: • to face the challenges of implementing this complex, action-oriented method in the context of divergent scholastic and educational policy framework conditions, • to work out possibilities, potentials and limitations of the student companies’ international cooperation, • to develop and test concrete concepts and procedures, and to develop handouts, guidelines, material packages, etc. for interested teachers and schools that are striving for sustainable implementation of student companies. Participating Partners The project was implemented in Bulgaria (Varna), Germany (Oldenburg) and Poland (Biala Podlaska). The project group consisted of 9 facilities: 4 schools: • BG: Private Trade School (PTS) • DE: High school in Osternburg (OBO) • PL: Gimnazjum (ZSO3) and Liceum (ZSO2) as well as 5 external institutions: • DE: Institute of Economic Education (IÖB: Coordinator) • DE: Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (CvO) • BG: Start it Smart, BG, Start-up initiative Sofia (SIS) • BG: Varna Free University (VFU) • PL: Rectus, Training Centre for Teachers Main activities conducted The overall project flow can be roughly divided into three phases: • In the first project year, student companies were founded and developed in the three school locations. • In the second project year, the focus was on the internationalisation of student company work and the establishment of first cooperative relationships. • In the third project year, the focus was on sustainability, in particular regarding institutionalisation in the overall school concept. The link between the student company work and teaching school subjects, which convey economic competences, was seen as absolutely necessary. In all phases of the project, the systematic integration of practical contacts (e.g. in the form of expert questionnaires, company and career research in local companies) and (in phase 2) the cross-border exchange of students played a central role. The main activities were as follows: • Three learning mobilities: one-week meetings of students, teachers and project partners. Depending on the respective project phase, relevant content-methodological aspects were set. • Participation in the 8th International School Company Fair in Berlin (2017) • Project meeting and online support: Project partners and teachers held regular meetings. These served in particular to provide teacher qualification with regard to professional as well as subject-matter and methodological content, the exchange of experience, the preparation of learning mobilities and joint concept development. A continuous exchange as well as the provision of qualification content took place via an on-line platform which was set up by the IÖB on the basis of LCMS Ecedon. • Creating Modules: The materials and concepts developed in the project, as well as accumulated experiences, were used to create seven modules for teachers on different aspects of content and questions concerning the organisation of internationally active student companies. Results and Effects The main result is the following seven modules / handouts for teachers: • Foundation of a student company • Student company work and career orientation • Student companies act internationally • The peer approach in student company work • Institutionalisation of student companies in schools • Internet-supported training concept • Theoretical and practical interlinking of student company work and teaching Information for the teachers, materials and experience reports are set up in the modules in such a way that they can be adapted to the framework conditions of other EU member states. These build the basis for the EU-wide dissemination of conceptual ideas. Student companies at participating schools were also able to be effectively integrated into the overall school concept, which guarantees their long-term continuation.