Final report - European Commission - Europa

WORKSHOP CONCLUSIONSRapporteur: Anna Gethings, AG Services, IrelandI. IntroductionThe topics that were explored in Workshop 2 focused on:II.Curriculum and teaching methods for entrepreneurship educationTeacher training – initial and in-service training for entrepreneurship educationEntrepreneurship and the school – the practical support and instruments for schools to encourage entrepreneurshipactivitiesThe contribution of enterprises to formal and non formal entrepreneurship education at secondary levelRecommendationsThe following recommendations emerged from the discussion:1. Curriculum developmentEntrepreneurship should be embedded within the secondary school curriculum. Curriculum development shouldbe driven by national policy with full engagement of the relevant ministries.Key government departments should engage and collaborate to develop a focused programme for entrepreneurshipcurriculum development. The Norwegian model was cited as an excellent example of collaboration at nationaland regional levels.National governments should engage with the EU support programme (2007 – 2013) to address curriculumreform.The diversity of each country’s education systems needs to be taken into consideration in evolving policiesThere is a need for research to be compiled for comparative purposes. The EU should facilitate intelligence gatheringand comparative analysis. The curriculum for entrepreneurship is still uncertain. Reforms need to be testedand a top down and bottom up approach should be encouraged.Different strategies need to be applied for evolving general and vocational entrepreneurship curricula.Societal partners need to be involved in curriculum reform. Actions forward should incorporate the wider communityas well as business interests.2. Teacher training and school supportTeacher training for entrepreneurship is a national policy issue and should be attached to national curriculumreform.National ministries should review the financial requirements for teacher training and support mechanisms andcreate conditions that stimulate teacher and school empowerment.National governments need to acknowledge that teacher training for entrepreneurship is a strategic issue. Thereis a need for piloting teacher training programmes.It was recommended that an action line for teacher training would be part of the EU lifelong learning programme.This would facilitate the sharing of experience and networking.Schools should create incentives to enable teachers to participate in continuous professional development.38Entrepreneurship Education in Europe: Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets through Education and Learning