Here Have Been Focused on the Adult Population (University Programs, Incubators, Accelerators, Etc.)

MAKING MANAGEMENT EDUCATION RELEVANT FOR FOSTERING YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP Author: Dr. Claudio A. Rivera, RTU Riga Business School; e-mail: [email protected] The RBS – Junior Achievement Latvia Partnership

MAIN PARTNERS:

Riga Business School: premier American-style business school Junior Achievement Latvia in Latvia established by Riga Technical University, University at is the Latvian branch of the Europe’s Buﬀalo and the University of Ottawa – www.rbs.lv largest provider of education programmes for entrepreneurship, work readiness and ﬁnancial literacy – www.jal.lv

PROBLEM STATEMENT FOUNDATIONS TO EDUCATE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS: KEY ELEMENTS

Entrepreneurship skills and attitude could be developed but they should be Two main elements should be present in order to develop young entrepreneurs: learned early in life. A LEARNING PLATFORM: entrepreneurship education needs a platform for learning Paradoxically most of the investments on entrepreneurial training in Latvia and in the sense that it brings together diﬀerent actors with diverse characteristics and priorities though with common interests. elsewhere have been focused on the adult population (university programs, incubators, accelerators, etc.). BLENDED LEARNING METHODOLOGIES: experiential learning; classroom as organization and project-based learning. THE RBS INNOVATION POOL RBS has been developing linkages with diﬀerent stakeholders with competences in entrepreneurship. They include a Finish-based franchise (Demola), a start-up annual conference (Digital Freedom Festival), a youth leadership platform (GoBeyond) and others.

The idea is to allow students and young people to have access to the necessary infrastructure to start-up their own businesses.

RBS, as a business school, has the capacity to develop and manage a powerful innovation pool. Junior Achievement Latvia has the access, the engagement and the experience with the youth population.

BEST CASES (1000+ student companies in competition)

Name: Simple+

Product: design and production of exclusive suit bags OUTCOMES:

Age of students: 15-17 years old pupils SELF-EFFICACY YES, I CAN! Origin: Madona, Latvia

BOOSTING AMBITIONS PLAY BIG OR STAY HOME Name: Rainy Art Product: design and production of children’s rain jackets BECOMING SMARTER Age of students: 15-16 years old pupils TOP EXPERTS IN JURIES

Origin: Ogre, Latvia GETTING ADVICE TWO MONTHS OF MENTORSHIP

Name: Light-Up Designs GETTING RESOURCES Product: design and production of smart and modular lamps INVESTMENT POSSIBILITIES Age of students: 17-18 years old pupils

Origin: Jelgava, Latvia