Practice into Policy! Entrepreneurial Learning

Too often, events on the theme of policy are vague and avoid getting into details. The « Practice into Policy : Entrepreneurial Learning » event, organized by Bantani Education, was everything but that. The 5 hours event was dynamic, filled with concrete exemples and local projects successfuly implementing Entrepreneurial education at all level.

Held at the Royal Library of Brussels, the event had presentations, lightning talks, workshops a panel discussion and obvisously a networking session. Close to a dozen high level individuals took the stage to present their challenges and their successes, in this very interesting and insightful good practice sharing session.

Mr. Rodrigo Ballester, advisor of Commissioner Navracsics, launched the discussion by clearly exposing the Policy perspective on the subject, before two sets of four local projects were presented. You can find more information on these by clicking on the following websites :

  • Competendo – Presented by Nils-Eyk Zimmermann, MITSOST;
  • iLinc – Presented by Anusca Ferrari, European Schoolnet;
  • EntreAssess – Presented by Rebecca Weicht, Bantani Education;
  • Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in 9 cities – Presented by Reineke Vandevenne, Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship;
  • EcosystemApp – Presented by Kathryn Penaluna, University of Wales Trinity Saint David;
  • YEDAC – Presented by Allan Nordby Ottensen, South Denmark European Office;
  • YouthStart –Presented by Dana Redford, Portugal Entrepreneurship Education Platform;
  • StudentStartupUP – Presented by Jean-Pierre Segers, PXL University College Hasselt.

Between each sets of four projects, the participants were invited to spread into 4 small groups for an interactive session with the speakers. These informal sessions allowed the participants to have a direct exchange and to ask their questions for a more thorough understanding of each projects.

The projects being presented, the event led to a panel discussion with four high profile guests : Andy Penaluna (University of Wales Trinity Saint David), Alen Maletic (Lifelong Learning Platform), Margherita Bacigalupo (Joint Research Center, European Commission), Maria Podlasek-Ziegler (DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission).

The panelists agreed that, although a lot was already done on the ground, Entrepreneurial learning was still to happen. They emphasized on the importance of the positive impact of it, because it provided youngsters with a variety of soft skills and enrepreneurial mindset that was essential after school was done. They also reiterated the necessity for all stakeholders to work together in order to optimize the outcome on the students. The challenges were also brought up, amonst these, the difficulties to implement such programs in schools and the lack of awareness from policymakers on the subject.

To conclude,we would like to congratulate Bantani Education for setting up such a rich event and, as was said in the closing remarks by Ms. McCallum, the discussion on how to turn practice into policy to expand the implementation of Entrepreneurial learning is to be continued. Join the discussion, we would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions on the subject.