Let’s hear it for the EU-preneurs
Euro students share business ideas
Students from all over Europe are gathering in West Lothian today (Thursday) to share their ideas for new businesses.
Young Scots have played a major part in a two-year initiative called ‘EUPreneurs’ along with their counterparts from Spain, Sweden, Romania and Turkey.
The scheme is aimed at fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in European youth and at transforming the way entrepreneurs are helped and supported through education.
More than 100 participants are attending the international event, which is being hosted by West Lothian College (WLC) at its campus in Livingston.
Although the gathering brings the current EU- Preneur project to an end, it signals a new beginning for the students involved who see their future as successful, self-employed businessmen and women.
Among the bright ideas which have emerged from the intensive schooling is an app to help people overcome speech difficulties such as stuttering.
Christopher Boyd, who spoke with a stutter until he was 19, and his classmate Christopher McCourt came up with the idea and developed it with the help of EU-Preneurs.
Together they created ‘ Spkesy’ – an abbreviation of “Speak easy” – for smartphones and tablets.
It works by helping people to overcome speech impediments and to hone their communication skills.
A three-button interface helps users navigate around a series of different exercises to help voice projection, eye contact and hand use.
The app also includes a personalised video filming facility to help users check how well they are surmounting individual obstacles in making presentations or simply communicating with other people.
Business students also came up with the idea of a “Culture Kitchen” in which students from different countries share recipes about food in a kind of multinational Master Chef programme.
Mhairi Harrington, OBE, WLC’s principal and chief executive, said: “The college has been delighted to have supported this two-year international programme which aims to give high quality advice and guidance to students from across Europe who are thinking about starting their own business.
“This project is one of many which have opened up significant opportunities for our learners over 2016/2017 with over 100 students taking part in exchanges and international work experiences. With youth unemployment a major issue across the whole of the European Union, EU- Preneur organisers say colleges, Governments and NGOs are having to work together to improve the outlook for Europe’s future workforce.”
Funding from Erasmus+, has allowed college staff across Western Europe tocollaborate and devise new strategies for supporting young people considering self- employment as a positive progression from their studies.
It is hoped the project will have a positive impact on employment rates for leavers from partner organisations by building confidence, instilling knowledge, and empowering teachers and learners alike to raise employment.
Mhairi Harrington added: “Our conference on May 18 is a really exciting opportunity to bring the project to a close and showcase the work of the students and staff at West Lothian College.”