The “SPEED” methodology combines new approaches of social innovation, social inclusion with development of key competences of pupils in four European countries in social enterprise as well as involving the local community with SPEED school enterprises. School education will target the reinforcing and development of key competences in lifelong learning for example by promoting cross-curricular collaboration, cooperating with stakeholders in local communities as well as promoting the development of new fair based partnerships between schools, businesses and wider society. Social inclusion and the protection of the ecological system are inherent challenges in Europe 2020. These challenges have also a huge impact on the economy, the welfare system and the job market. The core goals of SPEED are to identify, empower and train/educate new human resources, which are indispensable in the context of social enterprise starting with pupils and their teachers. Based on 3 already existing innovations the objectives of the project are therefore to combine them to create a new school business form, the SPEED model. The SPEED innovation is about changing the role of young people in school to become economic leaders for their community in a new way of organising business that prioritises fairness and care for the environment. Once they have achieved their Speed enterprises in the school the young people will engage their own community creating an innovative relationship whereby the school helps the community make its own economy stronger, more ethical and eco friendly. The key to this innovation is the way wealth is being created and shared and the ownership of actual shares among young people and community members in sustainable enterprises. It is also an innovation that straddles all three sectors, Public, private and NGO Core results are the development of key competences of pupils for lifelong learning, by promoting cross-curricular collaboration among school learning and non formal learning in the local community. This includes creative and innovative learning approaches and environments in school enterprises and by cooperating with stakeholders in the local community but also abroad with the SPEED community. SPEED will manifest an interdisciplinary teaching in social, cultural, environmental, economic, design and other contexts. We are expecting 5 intellectual outcomes as core results of the SPEED project: The SPEED methodology - Creating the innovative learning and school enterprise model The SPEED academy - The education and learning behind the training course The SPEED Tool Box offering a learning infrastructure The SPEED learning and school enterprises The SPEED marketing concept We expect the impact of this project to be massive both in the short and long term. For school children directly involved in the project it will raise their confidence, expand their learning especially around having the skills to set up a social enterprise, how collaboration are key components in a successful business, how wealth can be shared, how they are part of Europe. Schools will have increased their position in the communities by playing a major role in creating community wealth and helping the community address social and climate challenges. The communities will start to value the leading role of their school and value the contribution of their own children. They will create community wealth in both economic and ecological terms The project to be developed and will be carried out by a strong European consortium consisting of 7 partners from 4 European countries (UK, DE, GR, HR) running over 30 months. The partners have worked together before and have a lot experiences in lifelong learning, social economy, school education and new learning approaches. A well developed working plan, a management and communication plan as well as plans for Evaluation/QM, dissemination and exploitation of results and at least for Gender and Accessibility aspects will help and guarantee a successful development and implementation of the scheduled core intellectual outputs and other outputs. During the lifetime of the project, 5 blended pilot trainings and 4 Online-trainings will be undertaken, 4 SPEED School Enterprises will be created and 5 Road Shows will present and disseminate results. Minimum 80 pupils are involved as trainees, 8 pupils will be trained as co-trainer, 12 teachers will become SPEED trainers and many local stakeholder groups are involved as social community. The results of the project will be disseminated to a broad range of audiences from local stakeholder and civil society organisations up to regional, national and European authorities through a Website, Newsletter, press releases and articles, social media. The project will use EPALE and the School Education Gateway to share results with community of school education and adult learning.
The consortium wanted to achieve the correct combination of new approaches of social innovation, social entrepreneurship and social inclusion with the development of key competences for pupils in the 4 European countries, by providing them with a set of tools for them to become leaders and changemakers in their community through the implementation of SPEED school enterprises. Addressing the needs for social inclusion and the challenges of the climate crisis along with its implications on the economy, the welfare system and the job market, were also part of the needs. The core goals were to identify, empower and train students and teachers along with additional stakeholders around their local community, with new resources in the field of social entrepreneurship and social innovation. It was a way to try to improve how enterprise is taught and experienced in schools, so that it is more aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and addresses the needs of their own community. Young people experience the responsibility of taking the lead in dealing with environmental, social and economic problems, where they can learn and grow from their involvement and contribute to society and the economy in a fair way now and in the future.
The Consortium decided to apply for this project because it aligned with their shared passion for promoting youth entrepreneurship and sustainability. The project's objectives of providing students with lifelong skills and competencies through cross-curricular collaborations and non-formal learning in their local communities were considered essential to their personal and professional growth. The project addressed the need for reinforcing the development of key competencies, common values, civic engagement, participation, and environmental and climate goals in school education. The SPEED project provided a set of tools and experiences to develop social and sustainable school enterprises, which aimed to change the lives of young people and improve their community by introducing them to new learning. As a result of this project, students in 4 European countries have had access to the SPEED Methodology, the SPEED Academy, the SPEED Tool Box, and the SPEED school enterprises. The project's innovative approach was changing the role of young people in school to become economic leaders for their community in a way that prioritises fairness and care for the environment.