Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies

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The overall aim of YES, Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies, is to increase the number of entrepreneurs and accelerate European competitiveness. The method for reaching the objectives is integrating an entrepreneurial perspective in the one forum that gathers all European youth, the education system. Studies show that Entrepreneurship in school is an effective way to increase the number of entrepreneurs. 60 % of EU citizen say that setting up a business has never even occurred to them, entrepreneurship is not a preferred career option to most Europeans. By raising awareness and providing entrepreneurial training, the number of Europeans considering entrepreneurship as a career option will increase. The innovative approach of the project, improving regional education policies regarding stimulation of entrepreneurship, will give a direct impact on the participating regions level of entrepreneurship. The link between education and entrepreneurship is recognised amongst others in the Small Business Act and in the Oslo agenda. The partnership consists of 8 partners from: SE, ES, FI, PL, IE, EE, FR and SK. Six regional governments, a national youth entrepreneurship organisation and the Assembly of European Regions.YES origins from a regional need to develop and work with new methods in order to review regional policies. The need to absorb new knowledge and inspiration on youth entrepreneurship strategies grew larger in the regions as well as the wish for spreading lessons learned and good practice gained. YES will address the policy making process regarding the education systems in order to accelerate economic growth. This will be done by 1) Developing a method for mapping prerequisites for youth entrepreneurship promotion in regional development policies and education system. 2) Conducting a mapping 3) performing a joint interregional analysis where similarities, differences, strengths and weaknesses are identified. 4) The analysis will be transformed into 1 national and 6 regional Action plans with policy recommendations for each region/nation, providing the next steps for boosting the number of entrepreneurs involving all relevant key stakeholders. 5) The interregional mapping together with experience from the regional mapping and analysis will result in a Best Practice Guide. The result will be improved policies regarding integration of entrepreneurship in the education system. The long term impact of the project will be an increased number of entrepreneurs and SMEs in partner regions. An effective communication ensures the effect beyond the partners. Establishment of the European network for youth entrepreneurship promotion will ensure duration of project results. The interregional exchange of experiences, joint learning and dissemination of good practice is the interregional added value. The project results will contribute to increased European competitiveness and accelerate regional economic growth in line with the Lisbon agenda.

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