Launch of Erasmus+ Mainstreaming Student Entrepreneurship Project

August 28, 2018

The launch of the Erasmus+ ‘Mainstreaming Student Entrepreneurship’ MASTER project took place at Lagan Valley Island (24 August 2018) with guests from Young Enterprise NI, vocational, education and training providers from across Northern Ireland, enterprise partners and local entrepreneurs.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council led the European funded project, worth 220,000 euros, which has produced a Student Entrepreneurship Toolkit and other resources that are now available on an open platform for anyone to implement.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, Alderman William Leathem, said: “This is the first Erasmus+ funded project for the Council and I am delighted with the results.  Aimed at promoting an entrepreneurial mind set for students aged 16 and 24 this launch is the culmination of two years hard work.  All the practical tools which have been produced are evidence of what can be achieved through a real partnership approach. Investing in our young people, instilling an entrepreneurial spirit and nurturing their ambition will pay dividends and I am delighted that the council has led on such a beneficial project.”

The Erasmus+ ‘Mainstreaming Student Entrepreneurship’ MASTER project has developed four main resources; a Needs and Opportunities Analysis stating the case for an integrated, cross sector approach to student entrepreneurship education; a guide to creating such an approach between organisations within the Vocational, Education and Training sectors; a Student Entrepreneurship Support Toolkit and a project website to ensure long term exploitation of the projects’ results, information and teaching resources. 

Alderman Leathem added: “I would like to acknowledge the other partners in the project and especially Young Enterprise NI who facilitated the delivery of the pilot exercises in local schools.  The valuable lessons that have been learnt from this project will make a significant impact on local education and training providers who are now tasked with driving forward an entrepreneurial spirit in our young people and cultivating entrepreneurial competence in all students.  This in turn will benefit the local economy regardless of the career path they choose.”

All resources relating to the project are available at: www.studentstartup.how

Partner organisations included Technical Education Copenhagen, Roscommon Leader Partnership, Feltech Software Innovations Ltd, Inqubator Leeuwarden, CEBANC and the European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.