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Promotion of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Continental Model

Statistics relative to education for entrepreneurship draw on responses to the questionnaire sent by the ‘Polifonia’ Project’s Working Group 4 to European conservatoires in January 2013.
28 answers for the Continental model.

Education for Entrepreneurship

  • Primary and Secondary Schools

Entrepreneurship education is not a priority in primary and secondary schools, although at times it is taught through a cross-curricular approach. Only a few countries offer entrepreneurship training as a separate subject.
There is no coordinated strategy of implementing entrepreneurship courses in education, although some governments are encouraging the development of an entrepreneurial spirit.

Examples of Good Practice
– The Netherlands, Education Networks Enterprise 2009: subsidies support initiatives to implement entrepreneurship through partnerships involving primary, secondary schools and local businesses.
– Austria: Junior Enterprise Austria (part of the network Junior Achievement) offers specific programs for entrepreneurship education, including the creation of real companies as a school project.

  • Universities

All countries recognize entrepreneurship education in their steering documents, even if the exact term «entrepreneurship» is not always used and understood in the same way.
In most countries, entrepreneurship as a separate subject (Germany, The Netherlands) is either compulsory or optional.

Examples of Good Practice: Degree Programs Specializing in Entrepreneurship
– Austria: 11 Master and 8 Bachelor level programs
– France: 34 Master level programs
– Germany: Over 39 Master level degree programs
– Netherlands: 13 Bachelor level programs
– Switzerland: 13 Master and 2 Bachelor level programs

  • Conservatoires

64% of conservatoires think their region promotes the development of innovative and entrepreneurial projects in the higher education or cultural sector.

Examples of Good Practice: Germany – Popakademie Baden-Württenberg (University of Popular Music and Music Business)

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