This project addresses the need to relevance of curricula of VET secondary dual education by developing and piloting the ‘’Entrepreneurship and enterprise’’ module with student company as cross-curricular methodology, representing the set of theoretical and practical teaching and apprenticeship-based learning units, which are thematically and functionally bind across the curriculum of a secondary VET school. The module should constitute the compulsory segment of the curriculum of a secondary VET school in dual system of education. This module will replace existing ‘’Entrepreneurship’’ course, thought in secondary VET schools, but will build on it, and will stretch over the curriculum, other courses and apprentice-based practice. I addition, as a novelty in the formal system of education, it will include compulsory student company simulation method and accompanying activities as mechanism of active learning through experience and demonstration. The partnership consists of 2 VET schools implementing dual education (1 experienced from Slovenia and 1 that has just started with dual education in RS), and 3 NGOs active in the promotion of entrepreneurial education on national and European level. All 5 consortium members will work on the development of the module for VET schools in dual education, while additional 2 schools as associated partners will implement this module into their school programs. Serbian Ministry of Education will closely monitor this process as associated partner to ensure appropriate exploitation, better dissemination and substantial impact of project results. The project will start with Skype kick off meeting (A.1) to discuss the activities and funding rules, divide tasks and confirm the timeframe and dates set in the application. Throughout first month, project teams will be constituted, their ToRs created and internal dissemination will be carried out across consortium members (A.2). In first year of the project implementation, 2 working groups will create 2 intellectual outputs: ‘’Entrepreneurship and enterprise’’ module with cross-curricular approach (A.5); O2 – electronic system of registration of student companies – e-registry (A.7). Consultative workshops with VET schools, companies and banks (A.6, A.8) will be organiye to shape the final versions of the outputs. Creation of teacher manual will follow (A.12). Once the outputs are created, ToT (A.9) will be organized in Bucharest RO for teachers, regarding the implementation of the module. In second year of the project, these teachers will train additional 60 colleagues teachers from other VET schools through 3 national webinars (A.10). Throughout second project year, these two outputs will be implemented as compulsory module in 4 VET schools (A.11). Dissemination will be provided through 4 e-bulletins (A.4), regular web updates and promotion through the media, student business case competitions (A.13) and dissemination conference (A.14). Staff and associates will be addressed through internal dissemination events (A.2) whereas specific target audience through consultative workshops (A.6, A.8). Efficient management and quality will be ensured through 4 Steering Committee and Quality Team meetings (A.3), 6-month progress reports and mid-term and final project evaluations (A.15).
DUAL project brought together five partners from Slovenia, Serbia and Romania - 3 NGOs and 2 VET schools, who all have experience in running entrepreneurship education activities. The project addressed the need of VET secondary education by developing and piloting the ‘’Entrepreneurship and enterprise’’ module with student company as cross-curricular methodology, and by developing the electronic system of registration of student companies for better monitoring and communication with teachers and schools. E&E module promotes the set of theoretical and practical teaching and apprenticeship-based learning units, which are thematically and functionally bind across the curriculum of a secondary VET school. The module stretches over the curriculum, other courses and apprentice-based practice. While 5 consortium members were in charge in discussing and developing project outputs, two additional schools joined the project as associated partners and implemented the module in their school programs. However, the implementation phase had a bigger impact and at least 5 high schools only in Serbia tested the module which happened as a result of promotion of the module at the teacher trainings. The full impact of the DUAL project will be visible in the further years because teachers gave feedback that the module is useful and needed in schools, although it requires additional support from the school principals and colleagues in order to reach its full potential. While creating the e-registry platform (O2), researchers and technicians in communication with teachers and people who coordinate the processes of entrepreneurial education, saw many opportunities to improve the process of monitoring the implementation of the Company program. Then, through the created platform it is possible to evaluate and quantify the work of teachers as well as the level of student involvement and their achievements. In promoting the platform and its implementation by teachers, it was necessary to develop the IT skills of the teachers themselves, which is added value to the project activity. E&E module and the e-registry platform will continue to be used long after the project is finished - and probably will be adjusted to the specific needs of teachers, NGO’s, and the requirements of the national Ministries of Education. E&E module and the e-registry became the regular elements of teacher trainings in all three countries.