ENHANCING DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL STRATEGIES AT UNIVERSITY LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY BRAIN DRAIN (ENDORSE)
PROJECT
ENDORSE
Full Name of the Project: Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain
Project No.: 2021-1-AT01-KA220-HED-000029602
Project Acronym: ENDORSE
Partners:
- Ventspils Univeristy of Applied Sciences (Latvija),
- The University of Applied Sciences Krems (Austria) ,
- The University of Applied Sciences Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece),
- Mid Sweden University (Sweden),
- Niederrhein-University of Applied Sciences (Germany),
- The University of Lodz (Poland).
Project Implementation Period: 2022-2025
Goal: to implement research, study and networking activities that motivate graduates to join the region's businesses and avoid brain drain.
Tasks:
- To implement research activities focusing on the classification of regions according to socio-economic factors and the identification of business model archetypes.
- To develop modular study material to help students develop their entrepreneurial potential.
- To implement networking events with regional stakeholders in the labour market and policy makers.
Outcome:
- University regions classified to capture graduate emigration trends and identify suitable business models;
- Recommendations on how to foster cooperation between universities, businesses and local government to stimulate local entrepreneurship;
- The development of a hybrid blended learning teaching concept, teaching materials, guidelines and policy recommendations to tailor entrepreneurship activities and incentives to the needs and resources of university regions.
Project updates:
On 24 April, the usual study process at the Faculty of Economics and Management was replaced by a joint, creative activity for all 1st to 3rd year students together. The students took part in the business idea hackathon "Start up your business here". Alongside Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, such a hackathon also took place at the Erasmus+ project "ENDORSE" partner universities Austria in Krems, University of Lodz in Poland, Midsweden University in Sweden. The top 3 teams in each country are selected to compete in an international final a month later and the best team from each country wins the main prize - a trip to the University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria. The jury of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences recognised "InnoStow" from the 1st year of "Business Management", "Cramp In Hands" from the 2nd year of "Startup Management", as well as the team "VenMar" from the 1st year of "Business Management" as the best teams. Thanks to the team mentors from Business Academy, VATP, GreenTechCluster and VUAS for their valuable advice, inspiration and help in developing student ideas. Thanks to our amazing students for their passion, knowledge and courage! The event is organised and funded in the framework of the Erasmus+ project "ENDORSE".
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invited students, lecturers, policymakers and local entrepreneurs to share their views on current opportunities and challenges in the local business environment and enhance a joint discourse. As part of the Erasmus+ project ENDORSE policymaker, entrepreneurship promoting agencies and institutions, members of the academia and students joined round tables to discuss students and graduates entrepreneurial intentions at the university locations. The first event took place in Östersund /Sweden in November 2022. Round tables in Krems/Austria, Lodz/Poland and Ventspils/Latvia followed, allowing the project team to gain deep knowledge on the opportunities and challenges that students and graduates face when starting their own business on rather rural and remote areas. The main objective of the events was to identify the university’s role in promoting local entrepreneurship and increase its participation in local and regional development. In addition to discussions on local infrastructure and incentives necessary to increase the attractiveness of remote areas for entrepreneurs, it has been emphasized that early entrepreneurial education (high school level) is necessary for reducing personal barriers (risk aversion, lack of information) for potential young entrepreneurs. In addition, all participants agreed that hands on teaching concepts that are supporting students with entrepreneurial intentions throughout the entire founding process, from the business idea to the registration of a company, will provide a good incentive for young entrepreneurs. Local and regional entrepreneurship promoting agencies and policymakers see a stronger collaboration with universities as an important opportunity to increase their reach and transparency related to different entrepreneurship programs and funding schemes. “The round tables as well as the ongoing talks with students, academia, local entrepreneurs and policymaker and funding agencies are crucial for the success of the project. Without their input the outcome of the project won’t be able to go beyond textbook knowledge. To have a measurable impact on local and regional development we need a hands-on approach to promoting entrepreneurship amongst young people: hands-on education and hands-on policies. Universities play a key role in facilitating not only the knowledge transfer but also the cooperation of all involved stakeholders”, says Alina Schoenberg, Professor at IMC Fachhochschule Krems and Project Lead for ENDORSE. In the next steps the Project partners will evaluate the obtained insights and will design teaching content, as well as policy concepts while strengthening their universities’ role as regional innovation centers. In the ERASMUS+ project ENDORSE (Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain), running from 2022 to 2025, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences collaborates with Mid Sweden University in Sweden, Hochschule Niederrhein in Germany, Uniwersytet Lodzki in Poland, Kai Politikon Epistimon in Greece and IMC Krems in Austria as the main lead, to seek solutions for brain drain at university locations. Please, contact: Kristiāna Balode, ENDORSE project coordinator in Latvia, kristiana.balode@venta.lv
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participates in a major European research project that will seek solutions to prevent brain drain from university-related areas. The goal is to develop concepts that increase students’ ability to become entrepreneurs. In the ERASMUS+-project ENDORSE (Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences collaborates with universities in Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece and Sweden. The project starts in 2022 and runs until 2025. − We want to strengthen the link between universities, businesses and municipalities, which is essential for the creation of regional innovation networks. Areas affected by brain drain must ensure that cooperation between universities and local stakeholders works to create an entrepreneurial environment for students, entrepreneurs and academics to work in. Increased knowledge and regionally adapted models for such collaborations will improve the conditions for students to remain, says Alina Schoenberg, Professor at IMC Fachhochschule Krems and Project Manager for ENDORSE. The project will classify areas affected by brain drain as well as the type of business models that can be successful for each type of area and develop study material and courses to strengthen students’ entrepreneurial potential. In particular, researchers will study the conditions of women and immigrants. − In order to be able to live where you want to live and work, you need to be able to make a living and there the ability for entrepreneurship can be crucial, both for the individual and for society. We will develop digital and flexible training modules, oriented towards different professional categories that help build the right skills of the individual based on the needs and conditions of the region where the individual operates, says Gvido Grīnbergs Head of Technology transfer and innovation center at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and project coordinator in Latvia for ENDORSE. Researchers will also develop recommendations for policy makers to address strategies to increase the strategic role of universities in shaping the local business environment. − Another benefit of the project is, of course, that we are creating a transnational network that strengthens international cooperation. The importance of working together across borders to learn from each other and first similarities and differences between countries’ circumstances cannot be emphasized enough in these times, says Gvido Grīnbergs. Participating Universities: IMC Fachhochschule in Austria, Mid Sweden University in Sweden, Hochschule Niederrhein in Germany, Uniwersytet Lodzki in Poland, Kai Politikon Epistimon in Greece and Ventpils University of Applied Sciences in Latvia. Please, contact: Gvido Grīnbergs Head of Technology transfer and innovation center at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and project coordinator in Latvia for ENDORSE, +371 2880 7779, gvido.grinbergs@venta.lv
Address
Inženieru 101, LV-3601, Ventspils
Phone
+371 636 296 57
venta@venta.lv