EUROPAPRENEUR
NATIONAL RESULTS REPORT
SURVEY OF PARTNER COUNTRIES
Liz Carroll, ISME
Work Package 5
13 May 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
SURVEY RESULTS 1
Is there a need for this qualification in the partner countries? 1
What is already available in the partner countries? 2
Where does the Finnish qualification fit into the partner countries’ frameworks, if they have one? 2
Is there any constructive criticism of the qualification? 3
APPENDIX I 4
National Survey Reports of Partner Countries 4
BELGIUM 6
IRELAND 9
ITALY 20
NETHERLANDS 26
PORTUGAL 28
SPAIN 45
APPENDIX II 70
Comparison Between National Entrepreneur Qualifications 70
APPENDIX III 94
Comparison of National Qualifications 94
INTRODUCTION
Work Package 5 – Design of European Competence Qualification for Entrepreneurs.
The description of the activities are:
1. Comprehensive national enquiries
2. Contact making with qualified experts in Europe
3. Problem oriented expert interviews
4. Process production writing for common European qualifications for Entrepreneur.
The results expected are:
1. National Result Reports
2. European overview of the demand and market analysis
3. Module Structures
A survey of all the partner countries was carried out (See Appendix 1 for the responses) between 12 December 2008 and 27 March 2009.
The aim of the survey was to establish:
· Is there a need for this qualification in the partner countries
· What is already available in the partner countries
· Where the Finnish qualification fits into the partner countries’ frameworks if they have one
· Is there any constructive criticism of the qualification?
SURVEY RESULTS
Is there a need for this qualification in the partner countries?
There are mixed answers to this.
Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium already have qualifications in this area. But the Finnish Qualification could be adapted to meet the needs of these countries:
¨ Where Belgium is concerned the requirements for the qualification are strict and must be adhered to in order to be eligible to establish a business in the country.
¨ The Dutch qualification is currently under review and the relationship cannot be clearly defined.
¨ The Irish qualification seems to be at one level lower than where the Finnish qualification is pitched. However, representatives of the three target audiences for the qualification have been surveyed and the feedback is that there is little demand for qualifications from those who participate in Start Your Own Business courses. This covers those in the craft industries, i.e. apprentices or graduate apprentices, or many of those who are thinking about starting a business.
The Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship(ACE) Project will put a Trainer of Trainers programme in place for trainers in third level institutions in the near future and it will based on the NICENT Trainers programme (www.nicent.ulster.ac.uk) and NCGE's IEEP programme (www.ncge.com).
The Finnish qualification can have additional benefits to what is already available in Portugal but the structure and way in which to do this would need to be decided. In order to improve local development and labour market integration a new institutional design of cooperation and better integration between local institutions and actors might be an appropriate approach.
Slovenia can see a need as entrepreneurship is not currently certified. Additional benefits would be:
¨ To encourage young people to set up and run their own business
¨ To raise awareness among young people that the use of “entrepreneurship competences” can be a possibility for a professional career
¨ To develop entrepreneurial spirit among young people.
Spain can see a value in the lessons of the Finnish model but see it as a solid starting point from which to respond to the local needs, not to be used as a direct translation, step by step, into the Spanish system.
Italy didn’t respond to this question.
What is already available in the partner countries?
Ireland – FETAC Level 5 Start Your Own Business and others at a higher level, with a train the trainer being developed.
Belgium – Basic Level Course in Business Management
Netherlands – Currently under review
Slovenia - Nothing
Italy - Nothing
Spain – Nothing specific detailed
Portugal – Various programmes
See Appendix 2 for a comparison of programmes currently available (based on information provided).
Where does the Finnish qualification fit into the partner countries’ frameworks, if they have one?
See Appendix 3 for crossmapping of Qualification
It is not possible for the qualification to be directly implemented into the Italian or Dutch systems as there are strict formats for qualifications. In the case of the Netherlands it may be more realistic to add elements to the Dutch standards from the Finnish qualification.
In the case of Slovenia there is a possibility of certifying the Finnish qualification as a key qualification but not as a NVA, as “Entrepreneur” is not seen as a qualification in Slovenia.
It may be possible to certify the Finnish qualification in Belgium. This would require comparing the two qualifications in detail as Belgian federal law must be complied with and Flemish regulations for schools.
In Ireland it would be possible to introduce the qualification to the framework. The programme best fits at Level 6 which is awardable through two agencies (which will be amalgamated over the next two years). The question is whether it should be a FETAC or a HETAC Award.
The advantages of the FETAC award is that once it is an award any organisation can use it. Providers of the qualification, however, do have the control over the content of the training programme. The matching of the assessment and learning outcomes are what are quality controlled, not the learning inputs.
The disadvantages of the FETAC award are that there currently is a hold on any new qualifications being approved for certification. It is also unclear what the system for getting new qualifications onto the overall system will be or when it will happen.
The advantages of a HETAC award is that the organisation presenting the award for approval put forward any type of qualification that meets the learning outcome criteria for the relevant levels and meets other quality assurance requirements.
The disadvantages are that the presenting organisation owns the award and it is only they who can certify it. They would have to approve providers and would have control over the content.
There is usually a learning time input requirement.
This was not made clear in the Spanish submission. They would like to adapt the Finnish model to fit in with identified needs in Spain and also to meet the “Entrepreneurial Spirit” agenda.
In Portugal this would be done through working with business centres, business incubators and public institutions (such as employment centres) and local authorities.
Is there any constructive criticism of the qualification?
In general no constructive criticism was suggested. Having compared the qualification to one available in Ireland, the following are required by the FETAC Qualification but not by the Finnish Qualification:
The Business Environment
· Recognise the importance of ethics within business
The Business Plan
· Carry out a feasibility study
· Set realistic targets
· Apply “what if” scenario to data and valuations.
Implementation
· Design and construct a prototype
· Devise a production or delivery schedule
· Monitor quality, costs and customer relations
Evaluation and Review
· Compare targets with actual results
There may be a value in seeing if these should or could be added into the Finnish competency assessment.
APPENDIX I
National Survey Reports of Partner Countries
BELGIUM
EUROPAPRENEUR – SURVEY OF PARTNER COUNTRIES
Dear colleague,
As you know I have responsibility for Work Package 5 – Design of European Competence Qualification for Entrepreneurs. The description of the activities are:
5. Comprehensive national enquiries
6. Contact making with qualified experts in Europe
7. Problem oriented expert interviews
8. Process production writing for common European qualifications for Entrepreneur.
The results expected are:
4. National Result Reports
5. European overview of the demand and market analysis
6. Module Structures
At the moment I am concerned with activities 1-3 and results 1 and 2. To this end I have developed a timeline and a survey.
The aim of the survey is to establish:
· Is there a need for this qualification in the partner countries
· What is already available in the partner countries
· Where the Finnish qualification fits into the partner countries’ frameworks if they have one
· Is there any constructive criticism of the qualification?
TIMELINE
30/11/08 Sample Survey to Partners
10/12/08 Feedback on survey format, etc, to Liz received
15/12/08 Survey issued to Partners
21/01/09 Survey completed and sent to Liz
31/01/09 Report based on survey compiled and uploaded to group
SURVEY
Details of the person completing the survey:
Name: Paul Schram
Job Title: projectmanager Entrepreneurship
Company: DBO (Flemish Ministry of Education)
Sector: regional government
Country: Belgium - Flanders
Email address:
For the Partner
Is there a formal comparison between your country’s NFQ and the EQF?
If yes, please submit.
See document ‘Education in Flanders’ (uploaded on the Yahoo! group)
Is there a formal comparison between your country’s NFQ and the Bologna agreement?
If yes, please submit.
Give a short description of your NFQ and include a diagram if one is available.
See document ‘Education in Flanders’ (uploaded on the Yahoo! group)
For the Partner and potential stakeholders in the partner country
Is there a similar qualification already in place?
If yes, give a brief description of the qualification, including a list of types of providers
If yes, is there state support for this qualification?
If yes, what are the benefits of this programme?
Is there a need for a qualification such as the Further Qualification for Entrepreneurs in your country? See documents uploaded on the Yahoo! group:
- Were and how to get the certificate;
- Cercular letter for secondary education: ‘Business management in secundary education;
- Royal Decree ‘The basic level course in business management’
If yes, does the Finnish qualification have additional benefits to what is already there?
If yes, please list.
If no, explain why not.
Have you any constructive suggestions to improve the Finnish qualification?
There is much similarity with the situation in Belgium and Flanders
For the Partner and possibly for relevant stakeholders in the partner country
Can you see a way of certifying the Finnish programme in your system?
maybe
If yes,
What is your suggestion? we have to compare in detail because we have to respect belgian law
What are the possible issues?
Is there anything that is not negotiable? We have take in account Belgian federal law and Flemish regulations for schools
If no,
What are the main inhibitors/barriers?
If you forward this to other stakeholders please list those surveyed separately and show them the two programme documents.
Federal Government Service for Economy, SME, the Self-Employed and Energy
Royal Decree of 7 June 2007 – N 2007 -3191 (publication in the Belgian Official Gazette on 24 July 2007)
The basic level course in business management consists of the following:
A. Entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial skillswith focus on:
1° the commitment, qualities and attitudes of an entrepreneur, innovative and creative thinking, awareness of risks;
2° the importance of self-knowledge and the methods to gain this;
3° knowing professional counsellors and the importance of having them assist you;
4° writing a business plan and studying its feasibility
B. Elementary knowledge of:
I. Establishing a business:
1° the different legal structures of businesses, the different marriage systems, commercial property rent, obligatory and optional insurance;
2° social security status of the self-employed;
3° regulations on the environment, spatial planning and hygiene standards, commercial branches, hazardous installations;
4° government support, grants and credits.
II. Accounting, financial and tax aspects:
1° accounting aspects: the importance of accounting as a managerial tool, the headings of a simple balance sheet and a profit and loss account, the key trade and payment documents,
turnover, cash flow, provisions on accounting
of SMEs, the VAT system;
2° financial aspects: cost management and profitability, management scoreboards,
break-even point,
income estimates and investment and financing expenses, the financial
plan, calculation of sales and cost price and cost analysis;
3° tax aspects: the general principles of personal and company tax, the different types of revenue, deductible costs
advance levies and advance payments.
III. Commercial management:
1° supplier and client management, trade negotiations, analysis of competitors;
2° marketing, advertising and sales promotion;
3° supply and stock management;
4° market studies and commercial strategy;
IV. Legislation
1° responsibilities, rights and duties of dealers;
2° bankruptcy;
3° commercial practices and consumer protection;
4° commercial agreements.
The entire subject matter must be acquired in at least 120 hours.
The present Decree shall enter into force on 1 September 2008.
Were and how to get the certificate ‘Basic knowledge of business management’ needed to start your own enterprise in Belgium ?
Most common ways
1 Secondary education
(third degree; 2 or 3th year = last years of secondary education - age: 18/19 years old
Ø special/extra course ‘Basic knowledge of business management’ (e.g. in general education or VET) - 144 hours (50 min).
Ø items of the minimum programme are integrated in other courses (Economy, Bookkeeping, Administration, Finance, Sellingtechnique, Commerce…) (e.g. Economic education, Book-keeper, Sales representative,…)
(the teachers have to test whether the pupils have achieved the basic knowledge.
2 Adult education
Adults can follow the course ‘Basic knowledge of business management’ in schools for adult education (evening courses). Modular course - 3 modules - total of 140 hours (50 min).
duration: approx. 15 weeks - 5/6 months.
3 SYNTRA Vlaanderen
The Flemish Agency for Entrepreneurial Training - SYNTRA Flanders is a public agency, depending of the Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy. SYNTRA Flanders is, in the Flemish Region, the agency responsible for the co-ordination of the training towards entrepreneurship. SYNTRA Flanders takes care of young people and adults who wish to obtain qualifications to set up their own business.