This study investigates the role of school cooperatives in fostering early sustainable entrepreneurship competencies, with a focus on the Bell’Impresa! project in Northern Italy (2020–2024). Building on the European Commission’s recognition of entrepreneurship as a key lifelong competence, the research emphasizes the integration of creativity, innovation, cooperation, and social responsibility in education. The project involved 12 municipalities, 10 schools, over 3,100 students, and 425 teachers, supported by a network of nonprofit organizations and one private firm. Through 25 student cooperatives, workshops, community events, and industry collaborations, the initiative provided a practical platform for students to develop both hard and soft skills, including leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Adopting a qualitative single case study approach, the research highlights the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in managing school cooperatives and fostering a shared framework of values and goals. Findings reveal that such cooperatives not only enhance entrepreneurial competencies but also embed social and environmental dimensions into students’ entrepreneurial activities. This is reflected in cooperative organizational models, sustainable business ideas, and community-oriented initiatives. The study contributes to entrepreneurship education literature by addressing an underexplored field—primary school cooperatives—and offering insights into organizational factors that enable successful implementation. It also provides practical recommendations for future programs, underlining the need to build robust social alliances and to encourage sustainable entrepreneurial practices that can influence students’ daily behaviors.
Promoting Early Sustainable Entrepreneurship Competencies by School Cooperatives: the Experience of “Bell’Impresa! Project”
Mion G.
;Bevilacqua A.;Girelli C.;Gottoli I.;Cona M.
2025-01-01
Abstract
This study investigates the role of school cooperatives in fostering early sustainable entrepreneurship competencies, with a focus on the Bell’Impresa! project in Northern Italy (2020–2024). Building on the European Commission’s recognition of entrepreneurship as a key lifelong competence, the research emphasizes the integration of creativity, innovation, cooperation, and social responsibility in education. The project involved 12 municipalities, 10 schools, over 3,100 students, and 425 teachers, supported by a network of nonprofit organizations and one private firm. Through 25 student cooperatives, workshops, community events, and industry collaborations, the initiative provided a practical platform for students to develop both hard and soft skills, including leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Adopting a qualitative single case study approach, the research highlights the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in managing school cooperatives and fostering a shared framework of values and goals. Findings reveal that such cooperatives not only enhance entrepreneurial competencies but also embed social and environmental dimensions into students’ entrepreneurial activities. This is reflected in cooperative organizational models, sustainable business ideas, and community-oriented initiatives. The study contributes to entrepreneurship education literature by addressing an underexplored field—primary school cooperatives—and offering insights into organizational factors that enable successful implementation. It also provides practical recommendations for future programs, underlining the need to build robust social alliances and to encourage sustainable entrepreneurial practices that can influence students’ daily behaviors.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
