On September 16, 2023, RUANA hosted the first conference of the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs (NGOE) project in Lodi, Italy. This milestone event marked the introduction of the project’s early results—PR1 (Entrepreneurial Skills Framework), PR2 (Entrepreneurial Curricula), and PR3 (Skills Evaluation Model)—to a diverse audience of professionals working with young people. The conference aimed to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and highlight the importance of entrepreneurship as a key skill for young people in today’s evolving world.

Participants and Stakeholders

The conference welcomed a variety of external stakeholders, including:

-Youth workers, youth leaders, and professionals actively involved in non-formal educational settings.

-Representatives of business associations, offering insights into the entrepreneurial landscape and the skills required for success in the workforce.

-Parents’ associations, providing a valuable perspective on supporting young people’s development and career readiness.

This diverse group of attendees reflected the conference’s goal of bridging the gap between non-formal education, family support, and the professional world to create a robust ecosystem for fostering youth entrepreneurship.

Presentation of NGOE Results

The event featured comprehensive presentations of the first three project results (PRs), showcasing their relevance and applicability for youth development:

PR1 - Entrepreneurial Skills Framework:

-A systematic identification of key skills required to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets among young people, including creativity, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.

-Insights into how these skills can be integrated into educational and non-formal learning contexts.

PR2 - Entrepreneurial Curricula:

-A tailored curriculum designed to teach entrepreneurial skills using innovative and participatory methods.

-Practical examples of how the curriculum can be applied in workshops, training sessions, and youth programs to engage and inspire young learners.

PR3 - Skills Evaluation Model:

-Tools and methodologies developed to assess and track entrepreneurial skill development in young people.

-Demonstrations of how the evaluation model can provide actionable insights for youth workers and educators to refine their approaches.

Engaging Discussions and Networking Opportunities

The conference provided a platform for interactive discussions among participants, focusing on how the NGOE project’s resources can be adapted and implemented to meet the needs of diverse youth groups. Key topics included:

-Strategies for integrating entrepreneurial education into non-formal settings.

-The role of businesses and families in supporting young people’s entrepreneurial journeys.

-Opportunities for collaboration between youth organizations, educational institutions, and business communities.

Participants were encouraged to share their experiences, challenges, and best practices, fostering a collaborative spirit and enriching the dialogue.

Impact and Vision for the Future

This first conference successfully introduced the NGOE project’s foundational results to a broad audience, emphasizing their potential to transform youth entrepreneurship education. By engaging key stakeholders, RUANA laid the groundwork for sustained collaboration and the wider adoption of the project’s tools and methodologies.

The event concluded with a call to action for participants to become ambassadors of the NGOE initiative, promoting entrepreneurial education within their communities and leveraging the resources developed through PR1, PR2, and PR3 to empower the next generation of young leaders and innovators.

This inaugural event in Lodi served as a significant step in building momentum for the NGOE project, setting the stage for future conferences and activities aimed at fostering youth entrepreneurship across Europe.

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