Leaving Cert Vocational Programme

National Seminar - March 21st 2015

Entrepreneurial education Essential skills for life

Changing hearts and

minds towards

entrepreneurship in Ireland

Note: A key part of our mission is…

Note: My journey, many career changes, a fact of life in the modern era

that our students face into.

“No more jobs for life

- they went out with the

milkround”The Independent Newspaper

“Students feel they

have not learned

enough for the move

to adult life, where

they have to become

independent and

make financial and

life decisions.”

“Ireland must encourage entrepreneurship as a

norm rather than an exception.”

Note: In Ireland we face a cultural challenge, yes, we

have success stories but not enough of them.

“Where would we start, with a

degree we can get a job and the

employer provides the

framework…”

Final Year Undergrad

Note: And this cultural challenge needs a grassroots up approach, at the moment

entrepreneurship is not seen as a viable career choice and is perceived as a high

risk option by many students.

“Particular focus

on entrepreneurship

as two thirds of all

new jobs are created

by startup businesses.”

Note: However a vibrant, growing startup sector

is essential to the success of our economy.

“Entrepreneurship must

become part of our national

DNA.”

Minister Bruton

Note: Prompting the following observation by Minister Bruton

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Research

● More education required at all

levels on entrepreneurship.

● Develop an entrepreneurship

agenda in the education system

and have a stronger focus on the

importance of entrepreneurship as

a career option.

Note: Finding in respect of Ireland

What is the perception in our

society of being an

entrepreneur?

Note: Adversarial, combative scenarios?

Note: Are celebrated role models intimidating and demi-gods?

Note: Does the message appear

to be dis-empowering? That if you

can’t sing as well as Bono don’t

sing, if you can’t play soccer as

well as Ronaldo, don’t play

soccer?

1. Vision

2. Ability to create/increase value

3. Mastery Knowledge

4. Focus

5. Communication Skills

6. Networking Skills/Allies

7. Passion

8. Resiliance

9. Confidence

10. Fortitude

Note: And yet the characteristics that successful entrepreneurs exhibit are

those that are essential to many aspects of life.

Entrepreneurship education is about how

to develop a general set of competences

applicable in all walks of life, not simply

about learning how to run a business.

EU Entrepreneurship Education a guide

for educators 2013

Note: A point underpinned by the EU

Entrepreneurship is a ‘learning by

doing’ activity, not an academic

activity.

Note: Particularly in light of the fact that..

Note: So if we are

going to achieve

this ambition of

Ireland becoming a

global startup hub

by 2020 where do

we start?

Note: The journey of Irish rugby from the amateur era to the professional era

offers many useful lessons in creating positive culture change.

Note: Key success factors included a significant increase in the national

participation rate and early talent spotting, an increase in the level of ambition

and the positive impact of international talent and perspectives.

Grassroots/Culture

Note: What this

participation pipeline

might look like for

entrepreneurship and

high impact startups by

2020 with the key role

of education at the

grassroots level helping

increase the

participation rate and

aiding early talent

spotting.

Innovation &

Entrepreneurial Skills

Passport –

culture change at scale

Note: How Startup Ireland will

help develop a more

entrepreneurial culture, we are

developing a …..

• Opportunity recognition/Calculated

Risk Taking - Lean Canvas

• Plan and direct teams towards the

achievement of goals - Trello

• Design Led Thinking

• How to be creative - Mindmaps

• Networking - Linkedin

Core entrepreneurial skills

Note: The Innovation & Entrepreneurial Skills Passport will be

launched at our flagship event in October.

“Young minds are not

vessels to be filled,

but fires to be ignited”

Alexander PopeNote: You as educators on the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme are

in a fantastic position to help shape an entrepreneurial mindset in our

next generation.

Note: Helping our next generation become less risk averse in respect of

enterprise and helping change the focus of our culture from seeing property as

the best investment towards seeing themselves and their enterprises as

equally valid investments.

"Lessons learned?

Ireland’s property

love affair continues."

Irish Central.com

Small teams of individuals can

do what only governments and

large corporations could have

ever done in the past.

Note: Because being entrepreneurial is

very much about self empowerment in an

era when….

Note: Books I have found helpful

Note: Let’s work together to make Ireland a location for

high impact startups that want to take on the world.