Project Number: 2020-1-TR01-KA104-089277

Project Owner: Nurel Enver Taner Gaziantep Olgunlaşma Institute
Number of Participants: 10
Project Country: Germany

Project Overview

Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth and societal transformation. It is valued for its ability to create opportunities, foster innovation, and promote social mobility. However, a sustainable entrepreneurial culture can only thrive if individuals are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and mindset to develop successful business models.

Recognizing the importance of entrepreneurial education, we implemented a specialized Erasmus+ training program aimed at integrating entrepreneurial thinking into educational frameworks. The project’s core objective was to empower educators, institutions, and learners with the principles of entrepreneurship, enabling them to incorporate entrepreneurial methodologies into their curricula and learning environments.

Target Groups and Project Focus

This Erasmus+ project specifically targeted non-formal education institutions, particularly those supporting women, young people, and disadvantaged groups. The goal was to provide these target groups with the necessary tools and competencies to succeed in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

To ensure effective implementation, we collaborated with the Gaziantep Olgunlaşma Institute, a prestigious Turkish institution specializing in lifelong learning. The institute focuses on enhancing the career and social prospects of its learners through practical, skills-based education programs.

By integrating entrepreneurial education into their training methodologies, the project aimed to equip educators and learners with the ability to foster entrepreneurship in their communities, ultimately contributing to greater economic resilience and social empowerment.

Project Implementation and Methodology

During a seven-day training program in Germany, participants from the Gaziantep Olgunlaşma Institute underwent a comprehensive educational experience, blending theoretical instruction with practical applications.

The program focused on structuring, teaching, and incorporating entrepreneurial thinking into educational curricula. Additionally, it provided insights into successful entrepreneurship models across Europe, offering participants a global perspective on entrepreneurial education.

Through interactive workshops, case studies, and study visits, participants gained hands-on experience in how entrepreneurship is cultivated and supported in European education systems.

Training Focus Areas and Content

The training covered a broad range of key topics, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive learning experience:

• Understanding different types of entrepreneurship, from traditional business models to innovative start-ups and social enterprises
• Teaching entrepreneurship as a practical, experience-based learning process and integrating entrepreneurial activities into education
• Exploring the five core application areas of entrepreneurship, including business model development, financing, innovation, market strategies, and scaling
• Developing hands-on exercises and business simulations to help educators implement real-world entrepreneurial activities in their teaching
• Examining how entrepreneurship is integrated into the German education system through best practices and proven methodologies

These targeted learning modules were carefully designed to not only enhance participants' professional competencies but also empower them to promote entrepreneurial thinking within their institutions and communities.

Why Germany?

Germany is globally recognized for its strong entrepreneurial culture and its highly developed network of small and medium-sized enterprises. The country has long been a pioneer in fostering innovation, vocational training, and business incubation, making it an ideal learning environment for the program’s participants.

Since the 1980s, Germany has continuously expanded its support for entrepreneurship, integrating business-oriented education into schools and vocational institutions.

Despite the destruction of World War II, Germany emerged as a global economic powerhouse through a strategic focus on entrepreneurial growth, industrial excellence, and education-driven development. A key element of this success is its robust SME sector, which acts as the backbone of the German economy, fostering stability, job creation, and technological progress.

By experiencing Germany’s entrepreneurial ecosystem firsthand, participants gained valuable insights into how entrepreneurship is systematically embedded into education and society, knowledge that they can now adapt and apply to their own institutions.

Long-Term Impact of the Project

This Erasmus+ project played a key role in advancing innovation, lifelong learning, and entrepreneurial competencies. Through the program, participants not only acquired new skills but also gained valuable insights into the significance of fostering entrepreneurial thinking within education and society.

Key Learnings and Outcomes

• Educators and administrators explored innovative teaching strategies to integrate entrepreneurship into their institutions' curricula
• Participants developed a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship and learned how to apply these concepts effectively in their own educational environments
• Collaboration with the Gaziantep Olgunlaşma Institute strengthened knowledge exchange between European education systems and fostered stronger partnerships between European and Turkish educational institutions
• The project contributed to the internationalization of our organization, facilitating intercultural exchange and inspiring new initiatives for future education programs

Through this project, we successfully demonstrated how entrepreneurship can be leveraged as a tool for empowerment and socioeconomic progress.

Future-Oriented Educational Initiatives

With the successful completion of this Erasmus+ project, we have laid the groundwork for further educational programs focused on entrepreneurial learning and innovation.

Next Steps and Future Goals

• Expanding training programs by developing additional courses and workshops to further support educators and students in adopting an entrepreneurial mindset
• Creating a digital platform for knowledge sharing, facilitating continuous learning and collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners
• Establishing an international network for entrepreneurship education, connecting vocational schools, universities, and business incubators to enhance cross-border cooperation
• Launching follow-up Erasmus+ projects to scale up this initiative and increase its impact on European and global education systems

The long-term goal is to make entrepreneurial thinking an essential and integral part of modern education, ensuring that educators, learners, and institutions are equipped with the skills and mindset needed to drive innovation, economic growth, and social progress.