As children return to school, a new report from The Entrepreneurs Network, sponsored by ABE, advocates teaching children as young as 11 the basics of running a business. The report was launched at a high-profile online event, attended by delegates from around the world. At the event, speakers urged governments and those responsible for education policy to adopt the report's recommendations which centre on embedding entrepreneurialism in the curriculum from the start of secondary school.
Speakers highlighted that education systems are often focused on teaching how to be employed, whereas teaching the skills to create employment for yourself and others will provide better long-term life chances and equip people with the resilience and adaptability needed for a fast-changing future.
The speakers included:
The Rt Hon. the Baroness D'Souza CMG, a crossbench life peer who was Lord Speaker from 2011 to 2016. Baroness D'Souza is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, President of The Children First Alliance, President of Young Citizens and a Trustee of the Parliamentary Human Rights Trust.
Dr Lisa Cameron, Scottish National Party MP and Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Mental Health), who was part of the International Development Committee and the International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (2015-17). She is also the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurship.
Rob May, Chief Executive of ABE since 2017, having spent many years in senior roles in the education sector. He has served on the Board of Directors of the UK Federation of Awarding Bodies and was Founding Chair of the Federation’s International Forum. In 2019, Rob was honoured as a Friend of UNESCO for his work on actualising the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Sam Dumitriu is Research Director for The Entrepreneurs Network and author of Educating Future Founders. Prior to joining The Entrepreneurs Network in 2018, he was Head of Research at the Adam Smith Institute, he specialised in policy relating to emerging technologies, the gig economy and tax reform.
Professor Mark Watson-Gandy is a British lawyer and educationalist. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster and the author of multiple books. In 2007 His Holiness Pope Benedict knighted him in recognition of “his work as a barrister and law professor for the Catholic Church” (Knight of the Order of St Gregory of the Great). Mark created the KidsMBA programme to help young people develop the business acumen to start-up and run their own businesses.
Read/download the report here:
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