Poliempreende

Abstract

Methodology/approach

This program is directed to everyone, no matter the scholar level. However, each team must have at least one student or former student that must be part of one of the project partners (Polytechnic Institutes and non-integrated high schools).

The Poliempreende is a program focused on the promotion and development of the entrepreneurship among the polytechnics’ academic community. It consists of an ideas contest based in a great program of training sessions included on the activities plan. These sessions are oriented for ideation and construction of business plans. Considering the contest, it has a regional and a national phase. In both regional and national levels, the best three projects are chosen and earn prizes.

Originality/value

The project focuses on the cross-fertilization of knowledge area with the consequent enrichment of experiences, practices, and results, in particular by encouraging the setting up of multidisciplinary teams, with the goal to instill the spirit of initiative in the participants, the entrepreneurial willingness to create their own businesses and generate jobs, exploring the practical and professional character of their training.

Implications

The Poliempreende is also a project with a great regional impact, not only because the Polytechnics have a strong influence in the region where they are implemented, involving several entities, individualities, and local sponsors, but also because this program is open to any business idea, from engineering to hospitality, passing from health and culture, which permits a closer application and answer to local needs, anticipating the legacy that Carnegie Mellon/Portugal Program wants to leave to us (Foundation for Science and Technology (2009)).

Purpose

This program intends to provide participants with the necessary skills for the creation of business initiatives, to promote, and to encourage the entrepreneurship, in an approach of economic and social action through self-employment.

Supplementary materials

Power-point presentations and support documents are available only for the participants in the training sessions.

Citation

Pedrosa, R. (2016), "Poliempreende", Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education (Advances in Digital Education and Lifelong Learning, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 225-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-229520160000002014