Entrepreneurship education
Entrepreneurship Education - Department of Teacher Education in Kajaani
In years 1997 - 2000, a development project for entrepreneurship and technology education in Kainuu, KYTKE 2005, was carried out, co-ordinated by the Department of Teacher Education in Kajaani. The framework of the project were the international, national and regional information and development strategies of all-round education schools and teacher education. The common object of consideration of the actors of the project was how entrepreneurship can be brought into our traditional school system to intensify the development of the individual and the school community into an active participant in their environment. As a result of the KYTKE 2005 project, new entrepreneurship and techology education curricula were drafted for each of the municipalities in Kainuu. Also, entrepreneurship education materials were added into the studies of those students who are studying to become teachers at the Department of Teacher Education in Kajaani.
After the project, entrepreneurship and technology education, which are closely interconnected, have continued as a natural part of the operations of the educational instututes and teacher education which participated in the project. At the moment, the students at the Department of Teacher Education in Kajaani who will become teachers take a compulsory course in entrepreneurship pedagogy. During their studies, they will also become familiar with the operations connected to making an effort and internal entrepreneurship executed in the basic education (tutored practical training) and with the operations carried out elsewhere in Finland. During their studies, they must ponder intensively on the development of their own skills as promoters of making an effort and internal entrepreneurship. Of the technology education, they can choose one course according to their own interest in the subject.
The "gardeners" of entrepreneurship education have succeeded in their work in Kajaani. The main responsibility for the entrepreneurship education executed for some time now within the network of teacher training schools in Finland (eNorssi; www.enorssi.fi) has been carried by Kajaani. The network for the teacher education units is now also woven in Kajaani. Co-operation with the Finnish entrepreneur associations has also been started. The basis for all this has been the communal characteristics of the Kainuu Region both geographically and historically. We are too small to work individually, but when working together we can achieve things which are remarkable even on the national level.
How to carry out entrepreneurship education?
Methods of working and teaching which support entrepreneurship education are easy to make a part of everyday practise. By acknowledging the entrepreneurship educational aspect in a suitable teaching context, you can execute manifold projects. For example, the eNorssi portal gathers practical examples and plans on learning projects already executed, on theme days, and entrepreneurship educational themes integrated into different subjects. The pages also include links to existing network materials and video examples on executed projects.
The Finnish model executes entrepreneurship education in basic and upper secondary education as well as in teacher education.
Student teachers
During their studies, they must ponder intensively on the development of their own skills as promoters of making an effort and internal entrepreneurship. The expertise will develop in intensive interaction with the expert tutor of the thematic entity, with one's own peer student group, with teachers working in the field, and with representatives of working/business life. In this way, the meaning of initiative, creativity, and willingness to experiment as a part of the working methods to be chosen for each occasion will be made obvious. As well as the support offered by the working community for the operations as entrepreneur.
More information:
Juha Turpeinen jmt(at)cc.oulu.fi
Pentti Mankinen mankinen(at)cc.oulu.fi
