Seven schools in the first Entrepreneurship Day of the Network of Entrepreneurial and Innovation Schools of Andorra
Seven schools from the three educational systems in the country have participated in the first Entrepreneurship Day of the Network of Entrepreneurial and Innovation Schools of Andorra. The initiative is promoted by the Ministry of Institutional Relations, Education, and Universities, with the collaboration of Andorra Research + Innovation (AR+I). The goal is to promote an entrepreneurial culture in Andorran educational centers, as well as to consolidate the various initiatives that were already being developed, while also encouraging the creation of new proposals.
"The day is the moment that allows experiences to be shared, and it is a catalyst for our students to develop the skills needed to communicate their work," explained the Secretary of State for Education and Universities, Josep Anton Bardina, who attended the event. He also added that "the preparation process helps students develop transversal skills, useful in any other field, while working on projects that represent a contribution to their environment."
The Network of Entrepreneurial and Innovation Schools is made up of twelve centers from the three educational systems present in the country: The Andorran Secondary Schools of Santa Coloma, Ordino, and Encamp, Vocational Training Centers of Aixovall and La Massana, Colegio Español María Moliner of La Margineda, Col·legi Sagrada Família, Col·legi Sant Ermengol, Lycée Comte de Foix (general and pro), Agora International School, and British College Andorra.
Bardina believes that tools like the Network encourage the emergence of spaces for training in leadership and responsible citizenship, not only through the celebration of the event but also thanks to other activities, such as the entrepreneurship workshops offered in the country's educational centers last April. For this reason, the ministry's aim is increasing the activities offered by the Network for next school year. Moreover, for the next edition, the Day will be moved forward to March to encourage the participation of as many schools and students as possible. This will allow schools with post-compulsory education to avoid scheduling conflicts.
“Among the objectives of AR+I is to contribute to economic diversification, and initiatives like this perfectly align with our goals. We are very happy to participate in initiatives like today's and to contribute, through our knowledge, to defining projects such as the network of entrepreneurial and innovative schools,” explained AR+I manager, Marta Domènech, during the event.
The Entrepreneurship Day was organized in two parts: First, the students presented their projects to the attendees in a plenary session, addressing issues such as solving the housing problem in Andorra or ecological energy recharging. Afterwards, a fair was held with different booths where each student or group of students presented their initiative, where we find fishing activities with a gastronomic experience included, a collaborative cooking website, or the creation of a digital store.
It has also featured the presence of Andorran entrepreneurs to inspire students and reinforce the educational aspect of the day. In this edition, in addition to other professionals who interacted with the students, the founders and managers of Atelier d’Ars, Elna, and Ot Solans introduced their initiative. Atelier d’Ars is a clothing design firm using vintage fabrics rescued from forgotten stocks, and it also makes a clear commitment to sustainability.
This action is part of the strategic lines of the Ministry of Institutional Relations, Education, and Universities for promoting entrepreneurship, and it is an example of collaboration between the different educational systems and all their stakeholders, as well as the rest of the country’s social and business fabric.