Cross border Action Learning Entrepreneurship supported by Regional Networks (C-ALERN) The objective of the project is to develop a sustainable international educational infrastructure for VET- students to identify and activate transnational entrepreneurial opportunities, realized by the participating educational organizations and supported by their specific regional networks using existing entrepreneurial educational capacities for an International Entrepreneurial Lab Network (IELN). A virtual European Ecomlab and toolbox will be created as an transnational context that supports new flexible - partly cross-border- learning pathways based on EntreComp fitting in three educational VET-cultures of the participants, offering also opportunities in Internationalisation@Home context. Nowadays the majority of entrepreneurial start-ups are done by VET- students, predominantly based on local opportunities that lack an transnational or international perspective. To identify transnational or international opportunities a different mindset is needed and specific learning pathways should be communicated on a -multimedia- way that fits in the mindset of this generation. The context is a further cooperation of transnational education of the educational organizations: ROC van Twente (NL) , HLW Kufstein (A) , Berufskolleg Niederberg (D) strongly connected in their regional entrepreneurial eco-systems: ROZ Hengelo (NL), Wirtschaftskammer Tirol (A) and NFTE (D). All three are vocational schools, secondary level, providing vocational training Levels 2 – 4 and 5- that prepare trainees for jobs related to a specific trade, occupation focusing in on their regional labour market. We estimate that some 6-7% of our students can potentially be involved in the program. Activities & methodology • Develop transnational entrepreneurial education, based on joint cross border coaching, training and guidance, supporting the target group’s transnational entrepreneurial mindset and competence development. Working out business ideas , offering direct access to relevant networks and country specific business know-how and expertise (need-to-know basis, Just-in-Time). • Expand existing entepreneurial Lab Context (NL) to an international E Lab Network • Practical implementation of allocation of credits (ECVET based) a crucial element for transnational flexible learning pathways • Develop a virtual European Ecomlab: o a laboratory where tests can be conducted on learning entrepreneurship based on Entrecomp. o an educational environment where experimental methods can be applied on teaching and learning entrepreneurship: real world assignments, serious games, guest lectures of successful entrepreneurs, workshops o a pre-phase of entrepreneurial activities that can be embedded as start-ups in regional incubators, to support a next educational step of our students in higher educational institutions The activities are located in three regions (6 organizations), supported by small back office facilities on each location. A transnational project team supported by this back office and with input of motivated specialists (entrepreneurs, ICT, game developers, multimedia) will realize the project.As soon as the project is awarded, the existing Entrepreneurial Lab context (NL) will be transnationally expanded to an International Entrepreneurial Lab Network (IELN ), and the virtual European Ecomlab will be developed. Developing- a transnational educational structure is outside the limits of national education budgets forVET- students in D, NL and A. Project partners (Educational organizations, regional entrepreneurship supporting organizations, specialists on serious gaming, soft skills, software development, multimedia) will support an effective transnational entrepreneurship context for our target groups.An emphasis not on school-based learning, but on action learning and building relevant transnational networks. Results and impact for our organizations • An active operating International Entrepreneurial Lab Network (IELN) that supports transnational entrepreneurial learning for the target groups • An educational concept for active entrepreneurship education, based on a joint vision and shared coaching and guidance concepts (educational toolbox) • Stepwise developing transnational entrepreneurship learning pathways, using a new transnational educational infrastructure for intermediate students. • A virtual European Ecomlab fitting in the ECVET system supporting transnational entrepreneurial learning by a multimedia data base • Teacher transnational training for participating organizations When the project succeeds it creates a good practice for transnational learning and provides arguments to fit transnational entrepreneurship learning in the regular education budgets. Transnational cooperation is deepened within the participating networks, integration of new regions is the next step
Objectives To tackle the above mentioned challenges – from identifying transnational or international opportunities up to developing international business cases - a practical learning pathway based on learning by doing had to be created easily fitting in different secondary Vocational Education and Training systems and supported by entrepreneurial partners from different business support eco systems. Concrete: overall goal and objective of C-Alearn: to create for secondary VET- students an International Business Boost Masterclass Program (IBBM-Program) - a rich learning environment - where in multinational teams international entrepreneurial skills are developed by creating international business plans, and implementing these with active support from the entrepreneurial support centres and networks in the regions (NL, D and A) The intellectual outputs: creating the outlines -research based - and providing the necessary products and tools for implementation IO 1 research: outlines as fundament for the international Business Boost Masterclass Program IO2 creating the educational program supported by a manual IO3 toolbox: essential materials and products for implementation IO4 Train the trainer program
Cross border Action Learning Entrepreneurship supported by Regional Networks (C-ALEARN) Nowadays the majority of start-ups in the regions are developed by entrepreneurs with a secondary VET background. Predominantly based on local, regional or national opportunities that mostly lack an transnational or international perspective. This means that - in an open European economy - many opportunities remain unused. Because students are not aware of the opportunities that exist. Unfamiliarity can lead to uncertainty. Partly also because the expertise and skills are missing to develop a business idea in an international context. As well as the competencies how to address and mobilise the existing (cross border -) entrepreneurial networks.