The Central Baltic Student Enterprises without Borders (CBEwB) project has helped to improve international entrepreneurship education in Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. A total of 480 students from 55 schools took part in innovation camps at which they developed ideas that led to the formation of 78 cross-border companies. The students ran the companies and sold their products at trade fairs in all four participating countries.
Improved international entrepreneurship education in the Central Baltic region
- 01 June 2021
The students valued their experiences highly. They learned to communicate at a distance, made new friends and gained an understanding of the value of international teams. The main benefit for the teachers was the establishment of a well-functioning network in the Central Baltic region.
Each year, the process began with an innovation camp where students got acquainted, identified business ideas, set up companies and allocated tasks. They discussed business matters online and met a second time to refine their ideas and work on creative simulations.
Teachers were trained in entrepreneurship education at three sessions a year, which allowed them to share experience, gain skills and facilitate the process, only intervening if necessary. A teacher’s guide on creating and working with international student teams was compiled and made available in 42 European countries.
Following the drawing up of reports on the companies, results were presented at annual conferences and the process was analysed and improved. The project ended with a final conference.
Boosting competitiveness
Young people in the Central Baltic region are often taught to view their career paths from the perspective of potential employees rather than that of employers. As a result, they do not cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, which leads to reduced competitiveness.
An enterprising younger generation should help to create jobs. For Estonia and Latvia in particular, promoting entrepreneurship among the young could encourage them to launch companies in their home countries, rather than going abroad.
CBEwB looked to promote entrepreneurship by providing participants with the tools to innovate, take responsibility and help others. It broadened their horizons by giving them a taste of international business.
As most initiatives enabling students to set up companies are either solely national in scope, or have teachers playing the leading role, the project’s development of international, student-led ventures was innovative. Initially, the goal was to establish 50 ventures in 3 years, but interest levels were such that this figure was far exceeded.
New skills
CBEwB strengthened students’ team working, problem solving and communication skills and demonstrated the importance of international business and the need to take account of, and capitalise on, cultural differences. Furthermore, working with people whom they rarely saw entailed much planning on the part of the students, particularly as regards reallocation of jobs in the event of problems like illness.
Teachers enhanced their capacity to manage international teams and work with their counterparts from elsewhere. Both teachers and students worked with business volunteers, who provided advice. The partners built a strong network for future projects, some of which may involve organisations from other countries.
The impact of CBEwB will be felt widely. Teachers use the know-how they have acquired with students other than the direct participants and share it with their colleagues. The project’s learning materials will remain relevant and can be amended to meet the needs of various users.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Central Baltic Student Enterprises without Borders” is EUR 1 567 377, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 260 171 through the “Interreg V-A - Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Competitive economy”.