Entrepreneurship and innovation are key factors for our region in sustaining economic growth and creating jobs in today’s global environment. Entrepreneurial education needs to be part of the lifelong learning process. Entrepreneurial skills, attitudes, and behaviors can be learned and are not limited to start-ups, innovative ventures, and new jobs. Entrepreneurship includes the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives which is a skill that supports everyone in day-to-day life at home and in society.
The need to increase entrepreneurial education for youth in our region is important to introduce and foster entrepreneurship at an early age, to retain entrepreneurial talent, to increase the number of homegrown start-ups, and to keep students in school by engaging them with the workplace, showing them their potential, and providing them opportunities for success in the future. EngenuitySC is facilitating a community-wide collaborative focused on the development and implementation of strategies to increase K-12 entrepreneurship education across the Columbia area. As a champion for growing Columbia's knowledge economy, EngenuitySC is bringing together K-12 entrepreneurship organizations and providers to build a stronger network and platform for collaboration that will propel them forward to create greater impact in preparing today's students for success and eventual leadership in the new global marketplace. The following organizations are participating in the Midlands K-12 Entrepreneurial Education Collaborative: Boy Scouts - Indian Waters Council Faber Entrepreneurship Center - Moore School of Business Junior Achievement of Central South Carolina Lexington County Midlands Education & Business Alliance (MEBA) Personal Pathways Richland County SC Economics SC Department of Education YesCarolina
In the summer of 2010, EngenuitySC partnered with YesCarolina, a program partner of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to launch two youth entrepreneurship summer camps in Richland School Distict One from June 7-24 at Alcorn Middle School and the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. The goal of launching the camps was to introduce students to the concept of entrepreneurship, connect students with local mentors and foster thei dreams of developing a business. Students participated in team projects, class exercises, sessions with guest speakers, and developing business plans. The camps concluded with a final business plan competition and a judging panel of local entrepreneurs and representatives from Richland County who chose the top business plans to receive cash prizes. Pictures and videos of the final business plan competition will be available soon.
To get a sense for the power of youth entrepreneurship programs, watch TEN9EIGHT, a documentary on inner city teens from Harlem to Compton and all points in between as they compete in an annual business plan competition run ny the NFTE.