Policy

Developing and promoting entrepreneurship education has been one of the key policy objectives of the EU institutions and Member States for many years. Indeed, in the context of high youth unemployment, economic crises and rapid changes related to our complex knowledge-based economy and society, transversal skills such as entrepreneurship are essential not only to shape the mindsets of young people, but also to provide the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are central to developing an entrepreneurial culture in Europe. However, although some countries have already been committed to fostering entrepreneurship education for more than a decade, others are just starting.

 

Following the 2012 Eurydice report on entrepreneurship education (1), this new analysis captures the latest developments in Europe. It provides updated and more detailed information on strategies, curricula and learning outcomes, and also covers new themes such as funding schemes and teacher education. The report focuses on primary education, lower and general upper secondary education as well as school-based initial vocational education and training (IVET). It contains information for 2014/15 from 33 countries participating in the Eurydice network. In addition, national information sheets provide an overview of entrepreneurship education in each country.

In the context of the report, entrepreneurship education is defined as being about learners developing the skills and mindset to be able to turn creative ideas into entrepreneurial action. This is a key competence for all learners, supporting personal development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employability.

This 'Eurydice Highlights' provides a snapshot of some of the main findings of the report.

 

Click here for the short report and here for the full version.