In recent years many industrialized countries have suffered from economic downturn and high unemployment rates. Entrepreneurs play a potential role in stimulating and supporting economic prosperity, due to their ability to adapt to changing environments and because their structure allows them to conform to technological changes. On account of this, in this constantly changing and ever more interconnected world, we need more than ever the next generation of workers not just to take on jobs, but also to create them. In any case, developing entrepreneurial attitude (e.g. feeling comfortable with the culture of taking big risks) does not happen from one day to the next; children need the freedom to test their limits and to overcome their fears. Child educators as well, need to be conscious of the importance of developing entrepreneurial attitudes in order to transmit in a better way these skills. Hence, the main objectives pursued in this project are: - To foster entrepreneurship in secondary education by developing the entrepreneurial skills among children through an innovative pedagogical methodology. - To develop these transversal skills by using new ICT tools. Thus, this will address the development of new methodologies of learning and the integration of digital technologies in both learning and teaching. - To develop the necessary tools based on a human centred design approach, taking into account their needs, wants, limitations and environment. - Among the different activities, some of the dissemination actions will have to promote the importance of learning but also of teaching such skills to different targets. The project consortium is made up of seven organisations: - aNTIC (FR), agency for the new technologies of information and communication. Competences: project management and coordination, diffusion strategies, evaluation and monitoring systems activities implementation, among others. - MGEP (SP), DBZ team (Innovation and Design Centre). Competences: human centred design, product design, service design, experience design, among others. - Vaeksthus Sjalland (DK), business development centre. Competences: education sector, development of new educational methods through technology, digital prototyping technology, among others. - Ikastolen Elkartea (SP), cooperative that brings together social initiative schools in the Basque Country. Competences: pedagogical material development, training, among others. - FH Joanneum University (AU), University of applied sciences. Competences: software development, digital media and IT infrastructures, simulations, mobile applications, among others. - University of Nicosia (CY), department of Management and MIS / Research and Innovation Office. Competences: e-learning, instructional design, educational technology, entrepreneurship in youth, among others. - Synthesis (CY), center for research and education limited. Competences: developing and promoting social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial skills diagnostic, entrepreneurship training programs for youth, among others. Regarding the individuals that will benefit indirectly from the project, 160 children and 16 teachers will be involved in the evaluation of the methodology and the tools and around 576 participants and agents of school education are expected to benefit from the project through the various dissemination events. The methodology which will be followed during the project is divided into six different Work Packages, which will represent different phases, objectives and results: - WP01. Coordination and project management activities. - WP02. Definition and development of the necessary skills and competences needed to promote entrepreneurship in children. - WP03. Definition of the pedagogical framework and design of the pedagogical methodology and the skills evaluation model. - WP04. Design and development of a holistic supporting tools-system for the pedagogical methodology. - WP05. Test and corroborate the work done so far, in order to improve the pedagogical methodology. - WP06. Promotion of project results by carrying out different dissemination activities. Through this project, a pedagogical methodology to promote entrepreneurship in secondary school environments as well as technological tools that will support the methodology are expect to be created in order to bring about awareness of entrepreneurship and the promotion of entrepreneurial skills from childhood. Project participants will benefit in several ways, such as by gaining knowledge about entrepreneurship, development of technical and innovative digital skills, identification of new opportunities in school environments, contribution to the development of local entrepreneurship and innovative territorial development, etc. Also it is expected that the methodology will have a long term positive impact with children careers and work lives, and their personal development as they will feel more confident about their own capabilities.
In recent years, many industrialized countries have suffered from the economic slowdown and high unemployment rates. Entrepreneurs play a potential role in stimulating and supporting economic prosperity because of their ability to adapt to changing environments and because their structure allows them to comply with technological change. That is why, in this ever-changing and increasingly interconnected world, we need the next generation of workers more than ever not only to fill jobs, but also to create them. In any case, the development of entrepreneurship does not happen overnight; children need freedom to test their limits and overcome their fears. Children's educators must also be aware of the importance of developing entrepreneurial attitudes in order to better transmit these skills. The main objectives of the YESict project (Young Entrepreneurial Skills by ICT) were therefore as follows: - Encourage entrepreneurship in secondary education (students from 11 to 15 years old) by developing children's entrepreneurial skills through an innovative pedagogical methodology; - Develop these transversal skills using new ICT tools: development of new learning methods and integration of digital technologies in learning and teaching; - Develop the necessary tools based on a human-centred design approach, taking into account the needs, desires, limitations and environment of the individual; The project consortium consisted of seven organizations: - aNTIC (FR), digital use development agency (www.antic-paysbasque.com) - MGEP (SP), DBZ team (Innovation and Design Centre). (www.mondragon.edu) - Vaeksthus Sjalland taken over by Zealand Institute of Business and Technology ZIBAT (DK), a business development centre. (www.easj.dk) - Ikastolen Elkartea (SP), a cooperative that brings together the schools of social initiative in the Basque Country. (www.ikastola.eus) - FH Joanneum University (AU), University of Applied Sciences. (www.fh-joanneum.at) - University of Nicosia (CY), Management and MIS Department / Office of Research and Innovation. (www.unic.ac.cy) - Synthesis (CY), a limited research and teaching centre. (www.synthesis-center.com) After the development phase of the pedagogical method and associated tools, a first experimental campaign was launched in a real environment. These lessons made it possible to improve digital tools and teaching materials before launching a second experimental campaign. This in situ evaluation made it possible to: Measure the effectiveness of the pedagogical method, Evaluate the relevance of the method and tools by the teachers, Check the adequacy of the tools and the method for the students, Allow continuous improvement of the tools and the method. In the end, 316 students were involved in the YESict project, from 14 classes in 4 European countries with 23 teachers and 7 different schools. The YESict project has developed a pedagogical methodology combining Challenge Based Learning and Design Thinking to activate 4 key skills of the entrepreneur or person working in project mode: creativity, problem solving, collaboration, self-confidence or self-awareness. The pedagogical process thus developed was based on responding to a challenge / finding solutions through a 7-step sequence and using digital tools. A process that adapts to the constraints of the colleges, according to the time available and the equipment and level of use of digital technology. On students: After completing the YESict program, twice as many students are considering starting their own business in the future. The YESict method is appropriate for all ages and student profiles: it allows the remobilization of students with academic difficulties, questions the teacher/learner relationship, places the student in a situation of autonomy, initiative and reflection/production, and reveals talents/allows him/her to build as an individual. On the teaching teams: The level of satisfaction with the programme is very high (94%). 78% are satisfied with the digital tools offered, 64% of them have changed their minds about entrepreneurship: all say they are able to promote entrepreneurial skills among students, most are now able to explain entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills. On parents: 80% believe that entrepreneurship education is important for their children's education, 64% talked about entrepreneurship with their children, they discussed the YESict programme with their children.