Student Entrepreneurship in Europe

"The partnership, consisting of 5 secondary vocational schools from Czech republic, Austria, Sweden, Spain and Slovakia, has developed a project focused on student entrepreneurship. Its main objective was to increase students' knowledge about the business rules and job opportunities within the EU. The project was divided into theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part, students learnt a lot about the differencies of starting a business in the project partner countries (including the obligations of companies to the state), about phenomena of social entrepreneurship and about characteristics and opportunities of the EU labour market. In the practical part, students gained new knowledge, skills and experience while presenting marketing of their firms and creating swot analysis. The partnership used modern educational methods including collaborative learning, creative and critical thinking, active involvement of participants (preparation of SWOT analysis of student´s firms, organization of Trade fair of students´ firms) and use of ICT. Project participants were students aged 15-20 from vocational training or business field of study. The main project result is the Business guide to Europe that consists of students´works and materials on the following topics: 1. „Specifics of starting a business in the partner countries with the emphasis on the company's obligations to the state in each country“ and ""Social entrepreneurship in each country with examples of good practice"" (survey on business conditions in partner countries and best students´ideas for social entrepreneurship across Europe). 2. „EU labour market“ (survey on most desirable positions, the necessary skills for different positions and professions and job opportunities for foreigners/ EU citizens in the participating countries).3. „ SWOT analysis“ (analysis of student´s firms). 4. „Marketing“ – (marketing presentations of student´s firms and students´recommendation). The project increased students' knowledge about the (social) entrepreneurship, improved their level of skills for employability and new business creation, brought better orientation in the EU labour market and its opportunities and developed students´ language competences and digital skills. As for longer term benefits, the project supported students´future career path, job migration within the EU and developement of new business."