Intensive Programme ‘’Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity to Increase Competitiveness in the Job Market’’ took place during the last week of August and was hosted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. 39 students from 5 different universities representing fields of Business and Engineering participated in the first project #europehome intensive summer course with a major focus on entrepreneurship and employability skills.
The first intensive summer course allowed piloting an innovative material on developing essential entrepreneurial skills and it was organised as an integral part of the #europehome project (KA2, Strategic Partnership) activities. The intensive course aimed to equip students with knowledge about the essential transversal skills and competences to succeed in the job market. During this week, participants applied a range of entrepreneurial management principles, and practiced skills that are highly valued in the labour market.
Students attended practical and theoretical sessions delivered by 9 professors from 6 universities (University of Alcala, University of Aveiro, University of Latvia, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Lodz University of Technology, Tallinn University of Technology) and learned more about the design thinking, creativity and entrepreneurship, as well as reflected on essential skills required in the 21st century job market.
The intensive programme was organised in Kalandra University Camping, in Chalkidiki, Greece. The non-traditional venue allowed students to step outside the comfort zone and provided less formal settings for learning, testing one’s flexibility and increasing awareness about one’s strengths. Students were excited about the camping and for instance, Daniela Alcade del Rio from Spain said that this week has been an unforgettable experience and that living in a camping site was an interesting and a very unique experience.
“This last week was one of the best, if not the best week of my life. I will keep in my heart and mind the dynamic and interactive classes and the cooperation with our Spanish, Latvian, Greek, Polish colleagues’’ said Andre Augusto Oliveira Souta from Portugal and many other students added that this intensive programme had exceeded their best expectations.
Students had also noticed improvements in their team working skills, public speaking, communication and organisational skills. Zane Kalnina from Latvia thinks that this week has helped to increase her understanding not only about entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity but also about education and cultural characteristics of other countries, another student from Latvia, Laima Vasile, said that after the summer school she has a feeling that it is possible to acquire skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur and that her dream to become an entrepreneur is achievable.
Apart from the academic and professional part, students participated in various social events where they learned more about the Greek music and Greek dances, visited Vergina - a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage city - as well as each country shared their traditions and cultural treasures during the cultural evenings.
We would like to thank Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for hosting the event, professors from #eurpehome partner universities for preparing the content of the programme and participants for eagerness to learn and for their active participation and contribution.
