Over the lifetime of the project we had 4 main aims: 1. Provide entrepreneurial students unique work experience outside the UK to boost critical work skills in 4IR 2. Develop staff in their expertise in innovational approaches and work design in the area of entrepreneurship 3. Provide a foundation where partner academic institutes could build innovative curriculum matching the demands of local, national and international job markets 4. Increase the European profile of consortium members in the area of entrepreneurship, innovation and future ready skill development. At the time of application each consortium member had specific key aims they wished to achieve over the project duration, including: 1. Focused development of entrepreneurial teaching and learning methods (Northwest Regional College) 2. Development of internal startup hubs (Wigan & Leigh College and Homewood School* - *please note subsequent information on Homewood withdrawal and replacement with Exeter College, although their aims were aligned) 3. Global innovation to attract a more culturally diverse student demographic and increase global cultural understanding (Huddersfield New College) 4. Development of new programming around future skills (Corkscrew).
For the last decade Corkscrew has worked closely with educational facilities from secondary education through to higher education, with a commitment to ensure key stakeholders including staff, students, senior C-Level profiles and parents are supported in their understanding, development and implementation of future-proofed career skills and attributes through experiential work-based learning environments. In 2018, Corkscrew instigated in-depth conversations with decision makers at partner schools / receiving partners in regards to submitting a 2019 Erasmus+ Mobility application to develop more targeted future skills for students focused on entrepreneurial careers in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). The decision to focus on students working in studies that included elements of entrepreneurial studies was aimed to kickstart institutional and systemic change where the adoption of an entrepreneurial mindset would be ingrained across many institutions; something that would better prepare those taking part for the seismic shifts in dynamic skills needed in the 4IR. The Erasmus+ KA1 mobility would allow maximum key stakeholder impact in gaining the critical skills needed for the future of work and lay best future foundations.