Through the ENTRE_VET project, we are working on developing learning materials that will enhance the knowledge and understanding of VET students across Europe in business creation topics, such as business management, finances, marketing, business models…
However, providing an adequate training is not always enough to spark the interest of VET alumni in becoming entrepreneurs. Although there is a rate of students who is interested in owning their own business since the beginning of their studies, other fear the responsibilities and requirements that managing their own business involves. Theory and training are important, but there is a key element in the process of incentivising entrepreneurship among the youngsters: having referents.
Hearing the story and experience of entrepreneurs is important, because they offer examples of real situations that can happen, and how they solved them and grew stronger. The introduction of referents increases the interest of students in becoming entrepreneurs, making the process of business creation something more “tangible” and “feasible” in their mind, after hearing from someone who has gone through with it. In fact, there have been many studies in countries from the European Union who back up the belief that referents are key in entrepreneurial intention among young people.
For this reason, the ENTRE_VET project also organises workshops with real entrepreneurs, who talk with our students about topics related to business creation and management. Entrepreneurs from our local areas, in some cases alumni from our school, participated in workshops with students, and answered some of their questions about owning a business.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.