Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship (SdE)

Topic(s) addressed

The project effectively covered sustainable entrepreneurship and development, entrepreneurship education and innovation.

Target group(s)

In the project’s interest were the groups of teachers and students, educational institutions and companies.

Methodologies

The SdE study unit, with 80+ training materials and 27 business cases in three levels, was designed for both classroom and online use. Students used these materials to create sustainable business ideas and competed locally with real-world challenges posed by companies. We also incorporated virtual reality and Teams for some of the competitions.
To support teachers, a handbook was provided, offering implementation plans, evaluation criteria, and guidance. It also included methods for assessing students' prior knowledge and the study unit's impact through surveys.

Innovation environment

All learning materials were accessible on the project's website, enhancing the school's learning environment. The SdE study unit aimed to boost students' understanding of entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and innovation skills, enabling them to craft sustainable business concepts and corresponding plans.
Local competitions, exemplified in Finland, fostered an innovation-rich environment, uniting students from diverse educational backgrounds, including higher education institutions, vocational education and training organisations, and high schools. They had the chance to test their business plans by forming mini-companies or joining cooperatives.

Teachers’ role

Teachers who organized local pilots not only observed the project's impact but also found it to be a valuable learning experience for themselves. They emphasized the role of peer learning throughout the project, fostering innovation, teamwork, and pitching skills. Teachers led local pilots and coordinated competitions with companies and fellow staff, all contributing to achieving project goals.

Impact and output

The project's impact grew steadily through collaboration with diverse European organizations. Teachers' discussions on sustainable entrepreneurship and the sharing of best practices notably improved their skills and enriched educational resources. Impact surveys revealed significant learning for both students and teachers during the pilot. Educational institutions gained skilled staff and new materials, while companies received valuable business ideas from competitions, showcasing the project's multifaceted impact.
More information is available at: https://sdeproject.eu/ 

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