STEM EntrepreNeurShip for Everyone and Everywhere

Despite dedicated effort and research in the last two decades, the STEM-focused entrepreneurship field remained limited by little evidence-based knowledge of the impacts of educational programs on the entrepreneurial mindset of students (Shahin, et al., 2021). Non-formal settings (outside the school settings) and open access resources were deemed appropriate for addressing this need. Also, the unprivileged student population (e.g., migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, minority populations), and children living or studying in schools in remote or difficult-to-reach areas or in under-developed or low socio-economic areas, had limited access to resources and non-formal learning opportunities, especially to STEM and entrepreneurship fields. Consequently, these students appeared to be lower achievers in basic skills (Education and Training Monitor, 2020). Reduction of underachievement in basic skills remained an unreached goal of the outgoing EU strategy and a persisting challenge. Especially during the past two years of the pandemic, the shift towards e-learning widened the gap for disadvantaged groups, as the digital infrastructure was not as advanced everywhere (EU/EACEA/Eurydice, 2020; data.europa.eu).

The project’s main objectives (O) were: a) O1: Made STEM and entrepreneurship topics accessible to 6-12-year-old students with fewer opportunities to learn and promoted their increased participation in non-formal learning activities that combined STEM and entrepreneurial experiences. b) O2: Developed 6-12-year-old students’ STEM skills and competences combined with an entrepreneurial attitude, mindset, behavior, and intention. c) O3: Raised awareness among teachers, educators, and trainers for the interplay between STEM and entrepreneurial mindset and offered support to them on how to promote the development of STEM and entrepreneurial skills and competences for students, especially those with fewer opportunities to learn. d) O4: Encouraged sharing of experiences from all the partners across Europe to identify best practices for the incorporation of ideas related to STEM and entrepreneurship in non-formal learning contexts. e) O5: Facilitated the widespread dissemination and sustainability of resources and innovative pedagogical approaches to the wider EU community and internationally

The objectives of the project were achieved through the development of: A pedagogical framework for non-formal STEM/Entrepreneurship Education. An innovative STEM/Entrepreneurship toolkit with non-formal learning activities. A modular training program for educators to facilitate the toolkit implementation. An interactive learning portal for educators. Pilot testing and dissemination of the SENSEE outcomes to the project’s main target group and relevant stakeholders.

The main tangible results for the SENSEE project were: (a) A conceptual framework of non-formal STEM and entrepreneurship activities for students (b) STEM/entrepreneurship learning toolkit of activities (24 in total) in English and all partner languages A training program toolkit for trainers and educators (8-hours duration) in an e-book format (d) An interactive learning portal for STEM/Entrepreneurship for teachers (e) A series of dissemination activities (i.e., 6 webinars, 4 local workshops, one conference combined with one workshop)"