Entrepreneurial Educators!!!

Employers’ group says concept should be introduced at an earlier stage in education

Ibec has called for teachers to get ‘entrepreneurial thinking’ training. 

Policy & Education System
Kara Mcgann
Department of Education and Skills
Thu, Aug 20, 2015, 01:00

Ibec has called for teachers to be trained in “entrepreneurial thinking” so it can be introduced at the earliest stage in young people’s schooling.
In a policy document on entrepreneurship in education, the employers’ group has said the concept should be made mainstream at primary, secondary and third level “to deliver the skills needed for the workplace of the future”.
However, it stresses that entrepreneurship should not be viewed solely from “an economic perspective” as it has applications for society and culture.
One in eight second-level students born overseas
The vast majority of further education courses offer progression back into a CAO course through reserved places.

“The infusion of entrepreneurial thinking into the non-business disciplines such as arts, humanities and science, and at primary and secondary school level, is critical.”

The organisation has made 17 recommendations, including that higher education institutions should reward and accredit students who participate in extra curricular entrepreneurial projects.
Also, the Department of Education and Skills is urged to develop and expand “adopt a school” projects with businesses.
The most eye-catching recommendation, however, is to embed entrepreneurial thinking in all teacher training programmes.
This “would enable teachers to understand the distinction between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking and how it supports education”, Ibec says.
“Teachers should be encouraged and rewarded for engaging with and developing links outside their institutions with local business and social enterprises to enhance the experiential learning opportunities for students.”
“To support this, teachers also need to possess a range of competency related to creativity and entrepreneurship and to work in a supportive school environment where this is activity is encouraged and mistakes can be viewed as a learning opportunity.”

Junior cycle reforms
Ibec says the planned junior cycle reforms are a step in the right direction but notes the department must ensure they are properly resourced to meet their objectives.
“Eventually, this approach should be extended to the Leaving Certificate with the introduction of multiple methods of assessment which go beyond the tradition examination,” says Dr Kara McGann, Ibec’s senior labour market policy executive.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/ibec-calls-for-teachers-to-get-entrepreneurial-training-1.2322276