Final report - European Commission - Europa

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION WITHIN THE EUROPEAN SOCIALFUND (ESF)Ana Maria Nogueira, European Commission - Directorate General for Employment,Social Affairs and Equal OpportunitiesThe European Social Fund's main task is to contribute to the priorities of the Community as regards strengtheningeconomic and social cohesion by improving employment and job opportunities, encouraging a high level of employment,and more and better jobs.To this end, the links between the ESF and the policy framework – the European Employment Strategy (EES) – arebeing reinforced so that the ESF can contribute more effectively to the employment objectives and targets of the"Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs".Therefore, the ESF should support the policies of Member States (MS) closely in line with the strategy's three mainobjectives of full employment, quality and productivity at work, social cohesion and social inclusion.For the period 2007-2013, the ESF will continue to support education and training systems, particularly under the"human capital" priority. Whilst retaining a focus on the labour market and the need for adaptation of education andtraining systems, the new ESF reflects the comprehensive policy approach to education and training:The scope has been broadened to reflect a life-cycle approach to education;There is an increased emphasis on strengthening research and innovation, particularly through enhanced collaborationbetween education, technology and companies.Under both the Convergence and the Employment and Competitiveness objectives, it will focus on the adaptationof the educational and training systems to the labour market requirements and to the needs of a knowledge-basedeconomy.This requires well designed reforms which ensure that those leaving the education systems are equipped with thenecessary competences and occupational skills. Education and training systems should be flexible and allow for theadaptation of skills through the professional lifeThe educational and training needs in the convergence regions and Cohesion countries, under the Convergenceobjective are more substantial. These regions often face severe problems in the structure of education, gender-basedsegregation of subjects, insufficient accessibility, low quality of education and training, lack of training offered afterformal education etc. In these regions comprehensive reforms will certainly be necessary. To this end, current focuson comprehensive and overall reform of the education and training systems should be continued and could includesupport for the implementation of such reforms.Moreover, in these regions the educational and training systems can also benefit from overall reforms of the publicadministration and public services implemented under the "institutional capacity" priority.77Entrepreneurship Education in Europe: Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets through Education and Learning