Entrepreneurship  education  in  Finland1  

1 OVERVIEW    
The  Finnish  Development  plan  for  education  and  research  2011  –  2016,  adopted  by  the  Ministry  of  
Education  and  Culture,  emphasises  that  entrepreneurship  education  should  be  developed  at  all  levels  
of  school  education,  and  help  improve  relations  between  schools  and  employers.  

Entrepreneurial   skills   and   competences   are   explicitly   recognised   as   a   cross-­‐curricular   theme   and  
embedded   in   the   "Participatory   citizenship   and   entrepreneurship"   education   theme   at   primary   and  
lower  secondary  level  and  in  the  "Active  citizenship  and  entrepreneurship"  theme  at  upper  secondary  
level.   The   learning   outcomes   include   the   ability   to   act   with   a   sense   of   enterprise   and   initiative,   to  
achieve  a  goal,  to  be  able  to  assess  one's  own  actions  and  their  impact,  in  addition  to  be  proactive  
and  able  to  create  one’s  own  operating  methods.    

Like   many   other   countries,   schools   in   Finland   are   autonomous   institutions   and   implement  
entrepreneurship  education  in  various  ways.  This  includes,  embedding  the  skills  in  other  subjects  as  
well   as   creating   special   separate   courses.   The   Ministry   of   Education   has   published   a   set   of  
comprehensive   guidelines   to   help   support   embedding   entrepreneurial   skills   across   the   curricula.  
These   guidelines   present   useful   information   on   the   education   ecosystem,   the   various   stakeholders  
involved,   information   on   existing   initiatives   and   examples   of   the   forms   of   cooperation   between  
schools  in  practice.    

2 GOOD  PRACTICE  CASE  STUDIES  

Junior  Achievement  Job  Shadow    

2.1 SUMMARY  OF  THE  INITIATIVE  

The   Junior   Achievement   (JA)   Job   Shadow   in   Finland   programme,   "Leader   for   a   day!"   offers   students   a  
unique   opportunity   to   follow   a   company   leader   for   a   day.   Through   this   experience,   students   gain  
insight   into   the   working   life   of   a   business,   leadership,   initiative   taking   and   decision   making.   The  
companies,  which  take  on  the  students,  also  benefit  from  understanding  how  young  people  approach  
working   life.   The   programme   provides   experimental   learning   outside   the   classroom   as   well   as  
integrates  the  school  in  the  local  business  environment.    

2.2 BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  INITIATIVE  

With   a   network   of   39   countries   reaching   3.2   million   students   in   2013,   Junior   Achievement   is   the  
largest  provider  of  entrepreneurship  education  programmes  in  Europe.  JA  brings  together  education  

                                                                                                                                   
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 This  country  fiche  was  prepared  by  Technopolis  Group  with  contribution  from  3s,  DTI  and  ICF  as  part  
of   the   ‘Entrepreneurship   360   -­‐   Promoting   entrepreneurial   learning   in   primary   and   secondary  
education   and   in   vocational   education   and   training   project’   commissioned   by   the   European  
Commission,  DG  Education  and  Culture.    
The  content  of  this  document,  including  the  case  studies  and  the  descriptions  of  the  initiatives  reflect  
the  information  available  as  of  August  2015.  

www.schooleducationgateway.eu  
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and  business  communities  as  partners  to  address  youth  unemployment.  It  puts  significant  effort  into  
supporting   teacher   training   programmes,   in   particular,   to   give   young   people   more   in-­‐school  
opportunities  to  learn  in  a  real-­‐world  context.  The  Job  Shadow  programme  is  one  part  of  this  and  has  
the   objective   “to   improve   students'   work   readiness   and   thus   take   precautionary   measures   against  
unemployment”.    
The   JA   Job   Shadow   programme   consists   of   three   45-­‐minute   classroom   sessions   and   a   job   shadow  
visit,  which  usually  lasts  four  to  five  hours.  The  programme  sessions  are:  

• Before  the  Job  Hunt:  Students  are  introduced  to  the  JA  Job  Shadow  programme.  The  work  
through  a  seven  step  programme  to  learn  the  skills  needed  to  get  a  job      
• Perfect   Match:   During   the   second   session,   students   put   their   skills   into   practice   and  
participate  in  mock  interviews  and  prepare  for  their  site  visit  with  the  business      
• Next  steps:  Students  reflect  on  what  they  learnt  before  and  during  the  site  visit  evaluating  
their   priorities   and   preparing   a   thank-­‐you   letter   to   the   company.   They   also   have   other  
activities   to   undertake   which   might   include   preparing   an   elevator   pitch,   a   resume,   or   an  
infographic  profile  

2.3 TARGET  GROUP(S)  ADDRESSED    

JA  Job  Shadow,  “Leader  for  a  day!”  is  aimed  at  students  in  VET  schools,  secondary  schools  and  higher  
education  institutions.  The  programme  enhances  students’  learning  of  a  broad  range  of  concepts  and  
skills,  including:    

• Concepts   such   as   career   assessment   and   job   outlook,   career   planning,   elevator   pitch,  
infographic   profile,   job   hunting   and   interview,   networking,   professional   and   ethical  
behaviours,  resume,  thank  you  notes    
• Skills   such   as   data   analysis,   business   communication,   creativity   and   innovation,   following  
written   instructions,   identifying   behaviours,   interviewing,   oral   and   written   communication,  
information   organisation   and   presentation,   role-­‐play,   self-­‐assessment,   and   working  
collaboratively  

2.4 ORGANISATIONS  INVOLVED  

The  programme  is  implemented  though  collaboration  with  a  network  of  companies.  The  programme  
connects  the  students  with  a  company  they  have  chosen,  based  on  their  desire  to  get  to  know  more  
about   a   particular   industry   sector.   The   implementing   body   is   Junior   Achievement   Finland,   and   they  
receive   most   of   their   funding   from   foundations,   companies   and   the   European   Social   Fund,  
coordinated  by  the  Finnish  National  Board  of  Education.  

2.5 ACHIEVEMENTS,  RESULTS  

JA  Finland’s  goal  is  to  advance  entrepreneurial  attitudes  and  an  active  lifestyle  among  Finnish  young  
people   by   increasing   their   knowledge   of   entrepreneurship,   providing   entrepreneurial   experiences,  
enhancing   readiness   for   working   life   and   financial   management   skills.   The   combination   of   targeted  
classroom  settings  and  job  shadowing  is  an  important  approach  for  young  people  who  are  about  to  
enter   the   labour   market.   The   programme   increases   the   entrepreneurial   mindset   of   the   learners  
significantly.    
From   the   group   of   former   participants   in   the   programme   offered   by   JA   Finland   between   2000   and  
2013  (now  18  to  30  year  old),  67%  of  the  respondents  indicated  the  programme  made  them  consider  
setting  up  a  company.  11%  of  the  respondents  had  already  set  up  a  company,  due  to  the  influence  of  
the  programme.  
   

www.schooleducationgateway.eu  
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Further  information    

Organisation:  JA-­‐YE    
E-­‐mail:  [email protected]  

Website:  http://nuoriyrittajyys.fi/en/  

Further  documents:  https://www.jaworldwide.org/ja-­‐

works/Reports/JOBLESS%20Executive%20Summary_Low_single%20page.pdf    

3 EXAMPLES   OF   ON-­‐GOING   INITIATIVES   ADDRESSING  

ENTREPRENEURSHIP  EDUCATION  

3.1 UNIVERSITY  OF  JYVÄSKYLÄ  TEACHER  TRAINING  SCHOOL      

The  Teacher  Training  School  is  part  of  the  University  of  Jyväskylä’s  Faculty  of  Education.  The  school’s  
main   aim   is   to   provide   training   for   teachers   of   primary   and   secondary   schools.   It   provides   both  
subject-­‐specific  teaching  courses  and  special  education  teaching  courses.  The  school  participates  in  a  
number   of   projects,   entrepreneurship   education   being   one   of   them.   Teachers   participating   in   this  
training  can  develop  their  teaching  skills  and  logical  and  critical  thinking,  using  concrete  experiences.  
In   the   autumn   of   2014,   the   Teacher   Training   School   had   1010   participants,   705   of   whom   attended  
basic  education  courses  and  305  general  upper  secondary  education  courses.  

3.2 TEACHER-­‐ENTREPRENEUR  SPEED  DATES  

Teacher-­‐Entrepreneur   Speed   Dates   is   an   event   organised   by   YES-­‐Satakunta,   a   branch   of   the   Finnish  
YES   network   to   support   entrepreneurship.   The   aim   of   this   initiative   is   to   introduce   teachers   and  
entrepreneurs  to  each  other  and  increase  their  mutual  understanding.  Started  in  2010,  teachers  from  
primary   and   secondary   education,   as   well   as   entrepreneurs   from   the   region,   join   the   event   and  
exchange  valuable  examples  and  advice  with  each  other  in  an  informal  and  friendly  environment.  As  
suggested   by   the   name   of   the   event,   it   consists   of   very   short   exchanges,   the   speed   dates   last   only  
four  minutes.  The  event  helps  make  the  first  step  for  teachers  and  entrepreneurs  to  get  to  know  each  
other.  Annually  around  70  teachers  and  entrepreneurs  take  part.    

3.3 REGIONAL  YES  CENTRE  

The  Pori  Regional  YES  Centre  is  part  of  a  national  YES  network  aiming  to  promote  entrepreneurship  
education   in   schools.   It   provides   practical   entrepreneurship   education   services   for   teachers   from  
primary  to  upper  secondary  level.  Courses  for  teachers  are  based  on  involvement  of  pupils  and  new  
forms   of   teaching.   Courses   are   delivered   at   teachers’   home   schools.   Annually,   more   than   300  
teachers  participate  in  these  activities  in  the  Pori  region  

3.4 MEASUREMENT   TOOL   FOR   ENTREPRENEURSHIP   EDUCATION  

(MTEE)    
The  Measurement  Tool  for  Entrepreneurship  Education  is  an  online  tool  that  contains  approximately  
140   questions   constructed   around   concepts   drawn   from   a   theoretical   framework.   The   tool   is   used   by  
teachers   in   Finland   as   a   self-­‐evaluation   system.   The   Measurement   Tool   for   Entrepreneurship  
Education  was  developed  in  multiple  stages  between  2008  and  2012  by  the  Lappeenranta  University  
of  Technology  and  the  Development  Centre  Opinkirjo,  a  third  sector  organisation  active  in  teaching  

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and   education.   Additionally,   a   group   of   basic   and   secondary-­‐level   teachers   were   recruited   for   the  
project,  and  were  involved  in  its  development.  The  initial  project  was  completed  in  autumn  2012,  but  
it   continues   to   evolve   through   its   inclusion   in   other   national   and   international   projects.   The  
Measurement  Tool  was  shaped  by  participatory  action  research  and  a  case  study.  The  collaboration  
and   shared   expertise   of   the   users   (teachers)   and   the   designers   (researchers)   were   central   to   this  
project.   At   the   end   of   2011,   the   Measurement   Tool   for   Entrepreneurship   Education   was   launched  
nationally   for   Finnish   basic   and   upper-­‐secondary   school   teachers.   The   tool   gives   detailed,  
personalised   feedback   to   teachers   concerning   their   current   entrepreneurship   education   practices,  
and  it  gives  ideas  on  how  to  develop  as  an  entrepreneurship  educator.  It  covers  seven  areas  from  the  
design   of   entrepreneurship   education   activities,   pedagogical   solutions   and   networks  through   to   the  
implementation  of  singe  education  activities  and  complete  courses.  

3.5 LAATURI  (FINLAND)    

LAATURI   is   an   assessment   tool   for   students,   aged   12-­‐16   years,   which   was   developed   by   the   Oulu  
University   Teacher   Training   School   in   Finland.   The   assessment   is   used   individually   by   students   with  
the   goal   to   encourage   pupils   to   work   independently   and   in   the   spirit   of   entrepreneurship.   The  
assessment  also  encourages  teamwork  and  promotes  collaboration.  
There   is   also   the   opportunity   for   teachers   to   become   involved   in   the   assessment,   alongside   their  
students.   Questionnaires   for   students   and   teachers   are   freely   available   in   the   Finnish   language.  
Bringing   together   the   assessment   of   students   and   teachers   provides   feedback   on   the   quality   of  
teaching  and  how  the  actions  of  individual  students  affect  the  learning  of  other  students  and  of  the  
whole  group.    

3.6 THE  ENTREPRENEURIAL  SCHOOL  PROJECT  (TES)  

The  Entrepreneurial  School  project  (www.theentrepreneurialschool.eu)  and  its  Virtual  Guide  for  
Entrepreneurial  Learning  (www.tesguide.eu)  is  supported  by  a  consortium  of  15  partners  and  funded  
by  the  EU’s  Competitiveness  and  Innovation  Programme.  TES  hosts  a  community  of  practice  for  
teachers  from  18  countries,  which  is  expected  to  grow  to  approximately  4,000  teachers  in  the  next  
couple  of  years.  School  managers  and  teachers  can  access  self-­‐assessment  tools  (i.e.,  Measurement  
Tool  for  Entrepreneurship  Education  and  National  Standard  for  Enterprise  Education),  and  search  a  
database  of  more  100  tools  and  methods  on  how  to  organise  entrepreneurship  education.  

Teachers  report  that  using  the  search  facility  of  TES  allows  them  to  easily  find  what  they  are  looking  
for  in  terms  of  syllabi,  teaching  material  and  contacts  to  peers.  Also,  the  international  dimension  of  
TES  is  highly  valued.  Many  schools  today  have  a  "global  agenda"  and  are  thus  looking  for  platforms,  
such  as  TES,  to  find  twinning  partners  for  teacher  and  student  exchanges.  

TES  also  offers  teachers  the  opportunity  to  share  their  own  materials  with  other  practitioners  across  
Europe.  Mapping  the  development  and  take-­‐up  of  this  aspect  of  the  project  gives  a  good  indicator  of  
the  potential  for  offering  teachers  this  sort  of  "swap-­‐shop".  

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3.7 FURTHER  INFORMATION  AND  CONTACT  DETAILS  ON  THE  INITIATIVES  

Title  of  initiative   University  of  Jyväskylä  Teacher   Teacher-­‐Entrepreneur  Speed  
in  English   Regional  YES  Centre  
Training  School     Dates  

Title  of  the  

Teacher-­‐Entrepreneur  Speed  
initiative  in  the   Jyväskylän  normaalikoulu   YES  Satakunta  
Dates  
local  language  

Type  of  initiative   Programme  for  teachers   Programme  for  teachers   Programme  for  teachers  

Launch  date  of  

  2010   2006  
the  initiative  

Name  of  
implementing   University  of  Jyväskylä     YES   YES  
body  

Level  of  
Primary,  Secondary   Primary,  Secondary,  VET   Primary,  Secondary,  VET  
education  

Target  group   Teachers   Teachers   Teachers  

https://www.norssi.jyu.fi/esittel
y-­‐ja-­‐yhteystiedot/info-­‐ http://www.yes-­‐
Link  to  further  
1/university-­‐of-­‐jyvaeskylae-­‐ keskus.fi/2015/06/01/aivomyrsk http://satakunta.yes-­‐keskus.fi/  
information  
teacher-­‐training-­‐school-­‐ yja-­‐yes-­‐ope-­‐yrittajatreffeilla/  
normaalikoulu  

Language  in  
which  further  
English   Finnish   Finnish  
information  is  
available  

Contact  person     Jenni  Rajahalme   Jenni  Rajahalme  

Contact  e-­‐mail   https://www.norssi.jyu.fi/info-­‐

[email protected]   [email protected]  
address   1/contact-­‐info    

 
   

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Measurement  Tool  for  

Title  of  initiative  in   The  Entrepreneurial  School  
Entrepreneurship  Education   LAATURI  
English   project  
(MTEE)  

Title  of  the   Measurement  Tool  for  

The  Entrepreneurial  School  
initiative  in  the   Entrepreneurship  Education   LAATURI  
project  
local  language   (MTEE)  

Type  of  initiative   Guidance  materials   Guidance  materials   Programme  for  teachers  

Launch  date  of  the  

2008     2012  
initiative  

Lappeenranta  University  of  

Name  of   Kerhokeskus  –  koulutyön  tuki   Oulu  University  Teacher   Technology,  LUT  
implementing  body   ry   Training  School  
 

Level  of  education   Secondary,  VET   Secondary   Primary,  Secondary  

Target  group   Institutions,  Teachers     Pupils   Teachers  

http://developmentcentre.lut.f
Link  to  further   https://norssiportti.oulu.fi/inde http://theentrepreneurialscho
i/english.asp?show=yrittajyysk
information   x.php?3686   ol.eu/  
asvatus  

Language  in  which  

further  information   English     English  
is  available  

Contact  person   Elena  Ruskovaara     Elena  Ruskovaara  

Contact  e-­‐mail  
[email protected]     [email protected]  
address  

 
 

www.schooleducationgateway.eu  
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