Entrepreneurship Education

Entrepreneurship has never been as important as it is today when the world is confronted with big challenges that extend well beyond the global economy. Entrepreneurship is a tremendous force that can have a big impact in growth, recovery, and societal progress by fuelling innovation, employment generation and social empowerment.

While it is clear that the world is in need of more entrepreneurial societies who can address more complex, interlinked and fast changing problems, greater awareness is needed about the critical role education has in developing the next wave of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who can not only create jobs and value for society, but also empower others to dream of a better future.

With this conviction, in 2008 the Global Education Initiative launched a workstream to advance Entrepreneurship Education globally as one of the key drivers of sustained social development and economic recovery. The workstream, has 4 major objectives:

Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs
With its groundbreaking report: “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs”, the GEI wants to consolidate existing global knowledge and good practices in entrepreneurship education around three focus areas that cover the lifelong learning process of an individual: Youth (with a focus on disadvantaged youth), Higher Education (focusing on high growth entrepreneurship) and Social Inclusion (with a focus on marginalized communities). This is the first time entrepreneurship education has been considered in such a comprehensive manner.

The report also outlines specific approaches that are needed for each one of these areas, as well as opportunities, challenges and practical recommendations for key stakeholders. The report will be further discussed in sessions at the Forum’s 2009 regional summits in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and India. Key education decision-makers and meeting participants will review the report’s recommendations specifically as they apply in their region’s context.