THOUGHTS ON ENTERPRISE EDUCATION IN WALES

-

As many studies have shown, one of the most important factors in developing a more entrepreneurial economy is the integration of enterprise into the curriculum of schools, colleges and universities.

One of the best examples of how this has worked well internationally is to be found in Denmark where, during the last decade, the Danish government has developed a range of initiatives to strengthen entrepreneurship education across the country.

As a result, entrepreneurship is in the process of being fully integrated into teaching in the Danish education system with positive results in a number of areas.

For example, pupils who have participated in entrepreneurship education in Denmark have higher ambitions for jobs and education than non-participants, and entrepreneurship education has a positive effect on pupils’ intentions to start up their own business.

In addition, more pupils are leaders and initiators of spare time activities after they have received entrepreneurship education. It also helps pupils to relate better to school and education i.e. pupils enjoy being at school, feel connected to their classmates and supported by their teachers.

Policymakers in Denmark have also now established a more coherent policy towards entrepreneurship education through the establishment of a ‘Strategy for Education and Training in Entrepreneurship’.

This has ensured strategic direction and support for entrepreneurship training at all educational levels and is the first time that there has been a coherent national approach in funding and supporting entrepreneurship within the educational system.

As a result, it has provided an overall strategic approach to enterprise education, with the Danish government setting objectives to ensure that enterprise education is integrated fully into Denmark’s education system.

There is also collaboration across the different parts of Danish Government, with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs all cooperating in the implementation of the strategy.

Most importantly, rather than having separate actors working in different parts of the enterprise education field in Denmark, all activities will be brought together under a single organisation, namely the Foundation for Entrepreneurship.

This has created a player of sufficient size to drive development forward, build up knowledge and create continuity between the work done at every level of the education system.

In Wales, the primary vehicle for the development of enterprise education  is YES (the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy), which is managed in-house within the Welsh Government.

To date, it has done a good job of promoting enterprise within the educational system. However, it is recognised that there remains a lack of integration into the curriculum at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and, more critically, there is a disconnect between YES and other programmes.

In contrast, the Foundation for Entrepreneurship has the scale and independence, as a standalone body, to strengthen Denmark´s competitiveness by stimulating interest in entrepreneurship and becoming the national knowledge centre in this area. As a result, it has created a coherent national commitment to education and training in entrepreneurship that is making a real difference in Denmark.

A critical part of creating a vibrant entrepreneurial climate in any economy is to have a strong and cohesive enterprise education system that goes from primary school to universities and beyond.
Whilst, the Welsh Government has established a benchmark for enterprise education in Wales through the YES project, more could be done to create more enterprising students in schools, colleges and universities.

Given this, Welsh policymakers may wish to consider whether a new independent foundation would be able to better co-ordinate enterprise education more effectively across Wales. Certainly, it could have a bigger impact on the entrepreneurial potential of our young people and, as a result, the competitiveness of the Welsh economy in years to come.

Popular posts from this blog

THE IMPORTANT IMPACT OF STARTUPS ON THE WELSH ECONOMY

-
Image
Earlier this week, in association with Wales Week London , we launched the sixth Wales Start-Up Awards which celebrates the success of the best new Welsh businesses every year. It was a pleasure to interview a number of the award winners that are making a real stamp on their industries and markets.  These included Project Blu , overall winner in 2020 which has signed a major multi-million pound deal to sell their environmentally friendly dog products in the USA; Yoello , the Cardiff-based payments specialist which had to pivot during the pandemic but has completed a major funding round to expand their operations substantially; t he Goodwash Company , whose innovative approach to their business is putting them on the path to becoming a major UK brand in the next couple of years; and the Enbarr Foundation which is rewriting the textbook on community entrepreneurship through its efforts in Deeside. Despite all the challenges of the last 12 months, these amazing founders had not only survi
Read more

THE IMPORTANCE OF FRANCHISING

-
Image
When we talk about start-ups and entrepreneurship, rarely do we discuss the potential of franchising not only as a way of establishing new ventures in the economy but also as a method of growing existing businesses. According to the British Franchising Association, franchising is the granting of a licence by one person (the franchisor) to another (the franchisee), which entitles the franchisee to own and operate their own business under the brand, systems and proven business model of the franchisor. The franchisee also receives initial training and ongoing support, comprising all the elements necessary to establish a previously untrained person in the business. This enables individuals to start their own businesses without having to develop their own ideas and utilising an existing brand and established market. Of course, whilst each franchise business is owned and operated by the franchisee, the franchisor controls the quality and standards of the way in which the business is
Read more

UNIVERSITIES NEED TO BE AT THE HEART OF THE ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE OF THE WELSH ECONOMY

-
Image
With the majority of us still working from home during a dark and cold January, it may difficult to envisage that in less than one hundred days and barring any postponement from Cardiff Bay, we will be voting in the elections for the Welsh Senedd. As the political parties start to formulate their manifestos, various organisations, pressure groups and other bodies are putting together a list of their priorities that the next Welsh Government will hopefully enact as part of their programme. One of the most important of these submissions has come from the Welsh university sector that, during the last five years, has been responsible for developing world class research and innovation, delivered skills to people of all ages and backgrounds, and made a significant contribution to the economic and societal wellbeing of Wales. As the nation looks to recover from the challenges that we have all faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, higher education institutions are aiming to continue thi
Read more