Entrepreneurship to become more important in education curricula
(source: EU News – 10 September 2004)

In Short:

The Commission is proposing to introduce entrepreneurship into the national curriculum from primary school to university. The idea is to foster entrepreneurial mindsets through school education.

Brief News:

The Commission thinks education can play a crucial role in promoting the entrepreneurial spirit. This is part of the Lisbon target to make the EU the most competitive economy in the world by 2010.
At the end of July 2004, the Commission published details of the key aspects of its entrepreneurship action plan. One of the five key actions is to foster entrepreneurial mindsets through school education. The long-term policy objectives are to:

• introduce entrepreneurship into the national (or regional) curriculum at all levels of formal education (from primary school to university), either as a horizontal aspect or as a specific topic
• train and motivate teachers to engage in entrepreneurial education
• promote the application of programmes based on 'learning by doing', for instance by means of project work, virtual firms and
mini-companies, etc...
• involve entrepreneurs and local companies in the design and running of entrepreneurship courses and activities
• increase the teaching of entrepreneurship within higher education outside economic and business courses, notably at scientific and technical universities and putting emphasis on setting up companies in the curricula of business-type studies at universities


JADE, the European Confederation of Junior Enterprise, believes that it is important to support existing entrepreneurship among young people, especially through junior enterprises. JADE President Dilek Ayhan emphasises that "on top of being taught about entrepreneurship, young people need to practise and to be trusted when taking responsibilities". From 29 September to 3 October, JADE will organise a conference in Brussels on entrepreneurial education. Governments' representatives, NGOs and entrepreneurs will explore ways to promote entrepreneurial experience among young people. The aim is also to develop an entrepreneurial culture and to encourage more and more young people to start their own business.