Entrepreneurship education at school is being increasingly promoted in most European countries, according to a new report published by the European Commission, on 13 April. A total of 31 European countries were surveyed for the report, and nearly half of them have included it in their national strategies as part of their lifelong learning, youth or growth strategies. These countries are: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey.

Moreover, the report, entitled ‘Entrepreneurship education at school in Europe’, notes that eight countries (Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Wales and the Flemish part of Belgium) have launched specific strategies to promote entrepreneurship education. At the same time, very few countries provide specific teacher training in this field. This type of programme is available only in the Flemish Community of Belgium, in Bulgaria and in the Netherlands. Barely one third of European countries provide central guidelines and teaching materials for entrepreneurship education.

After taking note of the results of the report, Androulla Vassiliou, the commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, commented: “Entrepreneurship education is a driver for future growth and will help us to inspire the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. If Europe wants to stay competitive, it must invest in its people, in their skills, in their ability to adapt and in their ability to innovate”. The Working Group on Entrepreneurship Education, which was set up by the Commission in 2011, will produce a policy handbook on entrepreneurship education before the end of 2013.