This tripartite proposal will formalise and develop a new model of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise and support the development of a youth European Network. Over 10 years ago the EU identified ‘sense of initiative and entrepreneurship’ as one of 8 key competences necessary for a knowledge-based society. Since then there has been a great deal of policy developed. To support this in 2016, a framework was launched (known as Entrecomp) which proposes a shared definition of entrepreneurship as a competence, with the aim to raise consensus among all stakeholders and to establish a bridge between the worlds of education and work. Entrecomp, includes much needed clarity for what competences education should aim to develop (3 interrelated and interconnected competence areas: ‘Ideas and opportunities’, ‘Resources’ and ‘Into action’). The framework can be used as a basis for the development of curricula and learning activities fostering entrepreneurship as a competence and is comprehensively embedded with the approach taken by this project. In addition, the strategic Erasmus+ document on Youth Partnerships highlights enterprise as a key priority and competence to be developed i.e. “Promoting entrepreneurship education and social entrepreneurship among young people”. There will 21 people directly involved in developing the project between the 3 countries. However, as indicated by the figure below, the actual number of initial beneficiaries will be very large (400 participants) because of the resources that are being developed and the training that will take place. All 3 partners will be tasked to fully implement the programme within their organisations and with organisation users. Luxol for example has literally hundreds of participants per week that use the organisations facilities and resources. A targeted plan of appropriate sports organisations will then be optimised. Once the products are developed they will be shared with our networks as highlighted so that a conservative estimate would be of 400 who will have been trained and in a position to cascade within their own networks. Each of the proposed three core modules during this project will be supported by an activity pack to consolidate learning and encourage reflection. The separate resources pack will contain a variety of activities and lesson plans to engage young people and foster a “can do attitude”. The professional reflection distance travelled tool will be developed to help determine the increase in knowledge and skills around enterprise and entrepreneurship completed by participants at the beginning, during and following completion of the programme. The three proposed core units to be developed will be designed, co-created and developed in line with the SCQF framework guidelines and linking to the EQF framework. This will create a non-accredited certificated framework suite namely:- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Community and Sport Youth Leaders Award We envisage the framework will be made up of 3 discrete units, which may come under the following broad headings: Unit 1 Enterprise in Sports/Community Coaching – What does it mean? This first proposed unit introduces the Sports/Community Coach to the wider context of enterprise in the environment they work in and identifies the key stakeholders who can help them. Unit 2 How can I use Enterprise/Entrepreneurship to enhance my work? This proposed unit looks at a variety of different approaches coaches/trainers can use to support embedding enterprise/entrepreneurship in their learning programmes. Unit 3 Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship – why is it relevant? This unit highlights how the skills associated with self-employment and entrepreneurship are very useful for all young people no matter what path they decide to take in their career. The unit explores the myths around entrepreneurship and focuses on engaging the practitioner on how to inspire an entrepreneurial future within a youth setting. The project is specifically to co-create, share and learn within a European context and together plan the methodology that is more effective in each circumstance. Our Spanish and UK partners have first class experience in engaging with young people. In particular, our UK Partner has a breadth of experience, knowledge and understanding of curriculum design and implementation to support the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise theme that we wish to exploit and understand along with our Spanish partners. Coupled with this we are keen to see the development of a European Network to support Entrepreneurship and Enterprise and the sharing of good practice between European countries. This will ensure the sustainability of the project going forward and the development of future projects.
The theme of enterprise and entrepreneurship is the background and context of the project with this topic very prominent in Erasmus+ and EU research and a priority in terms of engaging youth and encouraging a growth mindset in young people. Paradoxically, the worldwide pandemic and the associated downturn in EU economies and unemployment issues meant that partners became even more convinced of the suitability of the topic we had chosen and of its benefit to partners and beneficiaries alike. We believe we could not have researched and undertaken a more worthwhile and topical issue for young people and that our research, development, evaluation and resources will be of significant impact for young people and communities in these difficult times. There was a steering committee established and 21 people directly involved in developing the project between the 3 partner countries. However, the actual number of initial beneficiaries was much larger because of the resources that were being developed and the training that took place. Youth groups piloting the materials were between 14 and 18, from football clubs, youth groups, schools and girls football teams. The objective of the project was to develop, share, co-create and pilot resources with an enterprise theme. IO one: Result is the completion of 3 sets of descriptors, Assessments, Sampler Answers and an Arrangements Document to support each of the descriptors. IO two: Result is the completion of Youth Workbooks, and added value has supported Facilitators Resources packs, Powerpoint Presentations, Training Videos and Portfolio IO three: Result is the completion of Professional Reflection/Distance Travelled Tool and a Guidance Document. As mentioned, in addition to the previous agreed outputs , there are 24 Training Videos that cover Units 2 and 3 as well as a website to enable access to download materials and understand the project and the partners involved. All 3 partners fully developed their individual units and supporting materials for the project. The three core modules developed during the project were: Unit 1: Developing Entrepreneurial Skills (with 12 workshops incorporated) Unit 2: Starting a Business (with 12 workshops incorporated) Unit 3: The Change Challenge (project - incorporating the learning within Units 1 and 2) Each unit comprises of a nominal 40 hours duration and supported with icebreakers, exercises, additional resources and a set of powerpoint presentations (for Units 1 and 2). In addition, a unit descriptor for each module and a set of assessments (tasks) and separately, sample answers were also developed. Feedback of repetition at the beginning of the descriptors caused the development of an Arrangements Document that supported all three descriptors. In addition, a professional reflection distance travelled tool was also produced to help understand the increase in knowledge and skills around enterprise and entrepreneurship that will be completed by participants at the beginning, during and following completion of the programme. A NETRISE website has also been developed (www.netrise.eu) with all aspects of the project incorporated, including the training videos for units 2 and 3 that were developed as added value. It was believed the producing this blended learning model of training videos, would create sustainability going forward and support the remaining LTTs. As designated at the project onset the three core units were designed, co-created and developed in line with and linked to the EQF framework. This therefore creates a non-accredited certificated framework suite namely:- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Community and Sport Youth Leaders Award. Despite the pandemic the project specifically co-created, shared learning within a European context in the following types of ways. Each partner country recruited 5 delegates from youth, sports or the voluntary sectors with these delegates engaging directly with young people in their chosen careers. This latter aspect was significant for feedback, piloting and evaluation. Only one formal Learning, Teaching and Training (LTT) event took place in Spain over 3 days with additional 2 days travel, however the other planned LTT events were facilitated and supported with a set of training videos that were produced and shared with all partners and their delegates over the course of the project. In addition, and because of the pandemic, an "online" end of project multiplier event (conference) took place, managed and facilitated from Malta, with all 3 partner countries in attendance with their delegates. The results of the project, are the extensively developed resources which are comprehensive in nature, which have been created by each individual partner, then evaluated by the other partners with edits and feedback and changes then incorporated within each of the units and the facilitator packs. The units were then piloted with young people and further changes incorporated. All of this highlights the open and transparent nature of the project with all partners sharing and contributing ideas and resources with a democratic co-creation of the materials. Coupled with this we are keen to see the ongoing development of a European Network, through facebook, twitter, and the website to support Entrepreneurship and Enterprise and the sharing of good practice between European countries.