Entrepreneurship education program
The Eureka Entrepreneurship Educational Program – My First Business Plan is part of an educational innovation program designed by Explora Natura and El Amonite for the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain.
Schumpeter, The author of classic economic works defines the concept of a business manager as someone who is different, who takes risks, who makes bets, who has ideas and is dynamic. An entrepreneur is not very different from the business itself.
Several studies have shown that it is possible to facilitate entrepreneurship or create environments conducive to the emergence of entrepreneurs. Likewise, a correlation has been demonstrated between a high rate of entrepreneurial attitudes and the economic development of regions (Beugelsdijk, Noorderhaven, 2002); and that entrepreneurship is the core of the competitive advantage of countries belonging to the United Nations (Porter, 1990).
There are mechanisms, tools, and structures that can be used to create entrepreneurial environments: venture capital, business incubators, training… but the most important thing to guarantee the creation of an entrepreneurial culture is to educate about the business field from an early age in school.
Based on the definitions of "entrepreneurial spirit" (Kangaharju, 2000),
«The concept of "entrepreneurial human capital" (Georgellis and Pared, 2000) has identified skills and abilities such as proactivity, risk propensity, and self-efficacy. The methodology for change proposed in this project aims to promote the development of entrepreneurial behaviors through a pedagogical practice that intertwines these concepts.
with active experimentation and the experience of each individual.
PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION
An entrepreneur is expected to develop strong sales skills, financial acumen, and self-motivation to succeed in any type of business. Given that a business cannot function without customers, entrepreneurs must possess highly developed skills in analyzing market trends and effectively implementing marketing and sales strategies. This entrepreneurship education program will help participants understand this crucial aspect of the business world.
The commitment of the actors involved in training/education is very important to promote entrepreneurship among young people.,
providing – through a strong emphasis on training – the
necessary skills that allow it to build competitive structures that are suitable and adaptable to this new era in which responsibility, governance, transparency and good social practices must prevail.
According to Chris Curtis, an entrepreneurship expert and guru, the advantage of
education for entrepreneurship itself.
One of the main complaints from students is, "Why do I have to learn this if I'm never going to use it?" The shaping of the new system, the novel paradigm that is forming and transforming the global labor market, is making the self-employed worker the new key figure, so the relevance of this knowledge is immediate.
The attitudes fostered by an entrepreneurial spirit are based on action. In other words, this type of education cultivates entrepreneurial attitudes and prepares young people for life after school. What makes this type of educational approach extremely effective is the fact that
It is based on activities and experiences, rather than a more theoretical approach.
The curriculum developed in this project will provide effective and multidisciplinary participation along with a pedagogical experience designed to support students in discovering and developing the qualities, characteristics, and attitudes of successful entrepreneurs.
The activities proposed in the project enhance student participation by encouraging them to ask questions, accept challenges, explore new ideas, be innovative and creative, and have fun while learning. The purpose of the "My First Business Plan" project is not to establish a business; rather, it aims to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and attitudes within an educational context, focusing on personal development and the acquisition of characteristics, qualities, skills, and knowledge.
Therefore, the main objective of this project is for students, helped by their teachers and parents, to begin to adopt a business structure in their minds and enhance the development of entrepreneurial qualities that many already possess, even if they are dormant.
It could be said that the most effective way to learn is by relating what has been studied to real-life situations, which are in some way representative of the situations that students may encounter in the future and where they will have to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired (De Corte, 1994). This form of learning stimulates the skills and predisposition of individuals, who view learning not as a passive process, but as a process of constructing meaningful knowledge (Miranda, 1999).
The goal of the Eureka Junior project is to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of children and young people through sequential activities and by applying a methodology focused on innovation and creativity. To achieve this, a simple simulation is conducted through a series of activities in which a well-defined objective is established.
An entrepreneur needs to structure their business idea objectively, transparently, and rigorously when starting a business. It is crucial that the business idea is well-defined, rigorous, and well-presented. The document that outlines this information is the business plan, an essential text for defending a business idea.
