Learning platform developed Promoting entrepreneurial thinking among young people at EU Level

An international research team has developed a multi-language learning platform to promote entrepreneurial thinking and acting among young people as well as their digital skills across national borders in Europe. It has been developed in the “Career 4.0” project, funded by the European Union within the framework of the “Erasmus plus – Strategic Partnerships” programme, and is from now on available. Interested young people or youth groups from 16 to 25 years of age as well as mentors and experts who want to use the learning platform can register with the project managers in the respective EU countries until 1 February 2021. In Germany, contact person is Professor Martin Kröll from the Institute of Work Science at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

“Especially with regard to the Covid-19 crisis, the best-practice-based learning platform can offer an additional benefit for vocational education and training as well as career orientation at European level,” states Martin Kröll, project manager of the Career 4.0 project.

With the help of the new tool which has already been tested, young people accompanied by mentors learn how to develop a sustainable professional perspective or create a new marketable service and establish it on the market. By means of the learning platform, young people receive constructive, professional, and practical feedback. Mentors make a crucial contribution for young people to find their way in the world of work.

Learning with agile management methods

The concept is based on agile management methods and takes into account the mega trends of digitization, demographic change, and climate change. The aim is to design and continuously develop a professional personal development plan with the support of experienced mentors operating throughout Europe. This concept is designed to help young people balance their strengths with the competencies expected by the market. In four agile projects, they can explore their talents in short learning steps in the sense of learning by doing with clear learning objectives and regular feedback loops, find employment opportunities, help design an expert hearing, and finally develop their own business plan.

The learning platform enables direct communication between mentors and mentees for more effective feedback processes and improved quality management as well as collaborative and self-directed learning. The services can flexibly be used in terms of time and location. Participants can use an international database to contact mentors and experts and exchange ideas and experiences with them and other participants, and document them if required. As part of the Career 4.0 project, the learning platform is being implemented in Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain and Hungary.

Young people with project ideas and mentors wanted

Participating mentees may still be at school or vocational training or may already be pursuing a professional activity following their training phase. Qualified young people with an academic background can participate as well. In addition, the project team is looking for volunteer mentors who are willing to encourage and support young people. Candidates are (former) executives or managers with extensive practical experience, for example by working in business, education, chambers of industry and commerce, and chambers of handicrafts. Within the project, mentors, with the help of a corresponding qualification programme for learning guides, are trained on the following topics: Communication Management and Channels, Design Thinking, Giving Constructive Feedback, Agile Project Management in the Digital World of Work and Self-Organization Management in the Age of Digitization.