Gain Creators / Outcomes

• Pedagogy of entrepreneurship education is developed.
• Cooperation between schools and businesses is increased.
• New learning environments for entrepreneurship education are created.
• National plans are implemented at the local level.
• Young people are active and entrepreneurial and they have the skills to enter working life.

Gains / Needs

• Teachers have more competence to put entrepreneurship education into practice in their work.
• Schools have a stronger entrepreneurial work culture.

Target Group

Educators

Implementation Method

YES Services were first established in 2001, based on a model from Canada. This has since developed into a wide entrepreneurship education network of 19 regional centres coordinated by the National YES organisation (founded 2010). The YES regional centers are in charge of bringing the YES services to the schools, forming local entrepreneurship education networks, and organizing events. A YES regional office is established based on the need for local coordination in a given area. The resources and partners of the regional YES centers are local.

YES - A Finnish Regional Ecosystem to Implement National Strategies

YES is a specialist network for entrepreneurship education. Mission: Every young Finnish student has access to entrepreneurship education regardless of stage of schooling and place of residence. The YES network is a great example of how to involve all stakeholders in entrepreneurship education. The Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland has issued national policy guidelines for EE. The YES Registered Association aims at implementing these guidelines on national, regional, and local levels. YES services are planned to fit the EE cross-curriculum theme requirements of the Finnish national curriculum.

Activities

• Training teaching staff
• Development of training and entrepreneurial education
• Promoting cooperation between schools and businesses, establishing school-business networks
• Providing educational materials
• Organizing seminars and events
• Providing JA Finland’s regional services

In addition, YES is also involved in the development and dissemination of curricula and strategies, some in partnership with teachers.

Resources

YES services have been developed on funds acquired from the European Social Fund and local partners. The initial project was mainly funded and developed in association with the Finnish National Board of Education. Local partners include regional development drives, entrepreneur organizations, and local Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

Pain Relievers / Solutions

• YES network provides training in EE and services for developing entrepreneurship in schools and establishing school-business networks.
• YES organizes events, seminars, and training programs both regionally and nationwide, and participates in the development of teaching plans and strategies.
• YES network advances EE by building and implementing regional strategies.

Pains / Challenges

• Fragmented initiatives in professional development of teachers.
• Small schools and wide geography.
• Education providers / municipalities are in many different stages regarding development and implementation of EE.
• A need for a local coordinator to School-Business cooperation.