Entrepreneurial Learning in
Action Programs
The startup.business Entrepreneurial Learning in Action programs are delivered by teachers in-curriculum and are designed for secondary students. The program consists of six core modules, the delivery of which is flexible: from 2 days a week over a term, 1 day over 2 terms, or even as an after school extra-curricular activity.
The modules guide students through the entrepreneurial journey as they identify local, global, or industry problems and then build a business idea to deliver a sustainable solution. They then pitch their ideas to a panel of judges from the local community during a ‘Shark Tank’ style competition. Winning teams from each school are then invited to compete in a national pitch competition that takes place during the National Brilliant Business Kids Festival in Sydney each November.
Course materials include:
- Brilliant Business Kids Booklets
- Mentor Support Material
- Mentor Guide
- Startup Business Planner
- Business Portfolio
- Industry Case Studies
Community and industry engagement begins with an event at the school to launch the program, and continues throughout delivery with mentoring, site visits, and school presentations. These mentor and business visits have been described as a defining moment for students and their teachers as the reason for this style of entrepreneurial education comes to fruition.
Mount View High School NSW
The support and opportunities of this style of program are particularly important to students in regional areas with high youth unemployment and where future opportunities in local industries such as agriculture are relatively unknown to secondary students.
The Startup Business program aims to challenge students to think differently within their local communities to create sustainable solutions from a problem based learning mindset. It is our goal to deliver meaningful education to young people regardless of the region, state or community that they reside in as education should freely available and accessible to anyone who wants to learn.
Why Entrepreneurial Education?
An entrepreneurial mindset provides a safeguard for students who are wanting to compete in careers not yet created at a time of rapid disruption and innovation. It also empowers students to see how they can create their own jobs by starting a business themselves.
The Australian Government’s ‘Future of Work’ report states that the future workforce will need both hard specialised knowledge and soft personal skills such as critical thinking, communication and collaboration. This confirms the view reported in the Top 10 Skills Required by 2020 according to the World Economic Forum: complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgement and decision making, service orientation, negotiation, and cognitive flexibility.
Students also gain confidence and resilience in problem-solving, realising that if they take action and are persistent, they will have an important impact.
Plus, it’s FUN!