Entrepreneurship in Education in Norway? (p. 13)

Inger Karin Røe Ødegård

The Norwegian Strategy for Entrepreneurship in Education

Norway has since 2004 a Strategic Plan for Entrepreneurship in Education. The Title of the Plan is See the Opportunities and make them work, it has been prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research (Norwegian acronym KD), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (NHD) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (KRD).

The plan comprises the entire educational career from primary school to college and university, including teacher training. Focusing on Entrepreneurship in Education has been a central element in EU from 2000 on when the Lisbon Strategy was stated by the European Council and where Entrepreneurship in education was underlined as a very important issue to reach this vision. We can read in the Strategy the following statement:

"The secret to achieving the vision of Lisbon is in our classrooms! Unless Europe is prepared to invest in enterprise education at all ages, involve the private sector as a full partner in the learning process, and inspire its young people to think outside the box, Lisbon’s vision of sustainable growth and more jobs will not be achieved".

The Stockholm European Council 2001 followed up the Lisbon Strategy where the policy aims for education were stated. On this background the Norwegian Government published its plan for a comprehensive innovation policy, From Idea to Value in 2003. Entrepreneurship was one of the five fields covered by the plan. In 2004 the Government published both the Strategic Plan for Entrepreneurship and the report No. 30 Culture for Learning3 that formed the basis for the new Knowledge Promotion Reform. In this Reform entrepreneurship was referred to as an instrument to renew education, and that pedagogical considerations would indicate that training in entrepreneurship should be organized differently depending on the stage in education.

The primary goal of the strategy for entrepreneurship in education and training is to strengthen the individual’s ability to see and exploit opportunities in an economic, social and cultural context. Thus, the way will be paved for future entrepreneurship, innovation and reorientation throughout Norway. The purpose of the strategy is to profile entrepreneurship as an educational objective and training strategy. The Government wishes to motivate and inspire educational institutions, municipalities and county municipalities to plan and firmly establish training in entrepreneurship in collaboration with trade and industry and other relevant stakeholders in the local environment.

The educational system has a role to play in this work, by stimulating attitudes and behaviour that promote the capacity for collaboration, creativity and innovation in children and young people. This must take place through long-term work with satisfactory progression. The young must be allowed to believe in their own creative powers and the ability to see and utilize local resources as a basis for creating values, developing workplaces and taking responsibility in their local community.

What does Entrepreneurship in Education mean Definition.

Entrepreneurship as a term will not be associated to education. However the term has a long history connected to the content of education and qualification. Since the middle of 1700 entrepreneurship has been a research theme within the disciplines of economics and social sciences.