Mini-Companies in Secondary Education

Education for entrepreneurship is already high in the agenda in most EU Member States. A wide variety of programmes and activities exist across Europe. However, there is a need of promoting these initiatives more systematically. The European Commission is committed to promoting entrepreneurship through education at all levels.

The best way of learning about entrepreneurship is through direct experience and practice. Mini-companies run by students at school develop on a small scale a real economic activity, or simulate in a realistic way the operations of firms. While not disregarding other pedagogical tools, mini-companies are an important option within any strategy for stimulating entrepreneurial attitudes and skills.

The new Expert Report on the role of student companies in secondary education looks at the different methods and providers of such programmes. It shows how concrete examples can be successfully implemented, and looks at possible obstacles and difficulties. The report proposes a set of recommendations - addressing all the actors concerned - on how to increase the presence of these methodologies in education systems and their take-up by schools.