1. Connecting to External Events
Useful Practice Description
The useful practice “Connecting to External Events” is the idea of using existig popular events with a wide reach such (Vocational Skills Week, Global Entrepreneruship Week, EU Day of Languages etc.) to promote a newly organized smaller scale event. This event can then be promoted via the connection to the already established event, gain some additional visibility and promote it to new audiences.
Useful Practice Organizer
PEN Worldwide (international Coordination Center)
Event Type Example
Social Media Competition – PEN Entrepreneurship Week
Adaptability
This useful practice can be used in any type of online, blended or in-person event organized.
The main aim and goal of this useful practice is to increase the visibility of the organized Practice Enterprise event through the exposure to the audience of the already established visible event. This helps to get the information out to new stakeholders, target groups and to potentially also increase the awareness of the concept itself.
- Reaching new stakeholders
- Increasing visibility & awareness
- Conecting an established “quality” trademark with the event
- Create thematic links & allign interests between the events and audiences
- Build up recurring strongly branded events (always connected to a certain external event)
- Attaining credibility for the event (under the umbrella of a bigger organizer)
- Not registering (if required by the event organizer) at the event website e.g. Global Enterpreneurship Network, EU Vocational Skills Week or similar
- Not alligning the topic or the needs of your event with the external event
- Choosing an external event of poor quality and visibility
2. Chill Zone for Trainees
Useful Practice Descrption
This useful practice allows trainees to catch a breath prior to intense business negotiations, communication in different languages and selling of their products. It allows them to chill on couches, chairs and gather strength. Alternatively, there can also be more active elements such as some sports games etc.
Useful Practice Organizer
COFEP (Belgian Central Office)
Event Type Example
BELFAIR (Belgian Practice Enterprise Trade Fair)
Adaptability
This useful practice can be easily adaptable to any kind of Trade Fair or event in general.
The aim of this implemented useful practice element into a structured Trade Fair can be to let the trainees unwind and get less tense prior to their professional performaces. (business negotiations, participation in competitions etc.) This can also be re-created in an online Trade Fair or other events with a online video conferencing tool where trainees play a game together or have some informal networking time.
- Breaking up the official tense structure of the event
- Creating a free space to network, communicate & have fun
- Get them active if a games/ sports corner is prepared
- Create an additional meeting point for trainees from different PEs
- Create a better mental well-being balance for trainees
- Focus on informal soft skills such as small talk etc.
- The space or venue does not cater to the needs of this “chill zone”
- The online chill zone for trainees has no ice-breaking intros/ games or activities to facilitate a fun and playful atmosphere
- The trainees misbehave as they believe “anything” is allowed in this chill zone
3. Ethical/ Innovation Challenge
Useful Practice Description
An Ethical or Innovation Challenge is a case study example of a social or environmental problem that is presented to trainees. The goal is for them to come up with innovative solutions in their diverse teams and suggest ways in which these could be tackled.
Useful Practice Organizer
Fundacio Inform (Spanish Central Office), VEI (USA Central Office)
Event Type Example
As a part of the International Spanish Trade Fair or as an online Innovation Challenge
Adaptability
This challenge can be easily adopted as a stand alone activity or even incorporated into a larger frame of any kind of event or Trade Fair.
The aim is to involve the youth and get them to solve the social or environmental case study challenges in different teams. The aim is to get together a diverse team of trainees and allow them to creatively approach the designated challenges, whereby their solutions can have real impact on the world we live in.
- Young trainees become the agents of change & feel involved in finding innovative solutions to challenges
- Learn to work together in diverse teams & understand how to blend different perspectives
- Get acquainted with challenges that the world is facing currently
- Finding innovative solutions that are created by the young generation for the future world that they will be living in
- Create a space for cross-cultural communication training (dependent on the make up of the team)
- Connecting these with real world business consultants & professionals who act as judges & mentors
- The ethical challenge case study has not been carefully thought through & developed
- The teams get into conflicts because of the topics
- The process and evaluation is not clear & transparent to the trainees
4. Coffee Room/ World Cafe for Trainers
Useful Practice Description
A Coffee Room or World Cafe for trainers is an informal space / setting for trainers to share their best practices, experiences & network with their counterparts. This space can be either created in-person or also online.
Useful Practice Organizer
Fundacio Inform (Spanish Central Office), ZUEF (German Central Office)
Event Type Example
Spanish Trade Fair, German Trade Fair
Adaptability
This element can be easily integrated into existing trainers trainings, Trade Fairs or other Practice Enterprise events
The aim is to get the trainers together and let them share their common experiences, useful practices and to simply network and discover the alignment of their topics. The venue or location should aid in the creation of this informal atmosphere.
- Connecting like-minded trainers & creating avenues for collaboration
- Breaking up the “formal” aspect of the event & creating an informal space for relationship building
- Getting trainers to share their experiences & making them feel “heard”
- Creating long lasting partnerships that can extend to the cooperation between the PEs
- Preparing a moderator who is there to faciliate and can suggest ice-breaker activities
- All the trainers are too shy to talk & silence prevails
- Trainers do not understand the goals & the benefits of connecting
- It largely depends on the characteristic and make up of the group itself
5. Business "Provocation"
Useful Practice Description
The useful practice refers to a competition “Business Provocation” which can be organized as an additional activity within a Practice Enterprise Trade Fair. Trainees call the representatives of companies at the agreed time to find out the answers to the risk management questions posed in the tasks. They record the answers in the tables of risks and assumptions, and present ways to solve the risks to the evaluation committee. During the short time of the interview, students have to ask entrepreneurs as many precise questions as possible to get clear answers about the risks.
Useful Practice Organizer
Lithuanian Association of Practice Enterprises, LIBA
Event Type Example
Lithuanian Trade Fair
Adaptability
This element can be easily integrated into existing Trade Fairs or other Practice Enterprise events
The main aim of the event is to promote cooperation between Practice Enterprises and real enterprises, and to strengthen students’ problem-solving skills, creativity, and many others.
Prior to the event, the tasks, and rules for the “Business Provocation” competition for students related to corporate risk management were worked out in 5 risk areas:
1. Business
2. Strategy
3. Finance
4. Market
5. Reputation.
The rules were sent to the PEs before the event, and the task was presented at the beginning of the event – on the same day for the two representatives of the PE. Then they had 15 minutes to ask questions, half an hour to prepare proposals for risks, and 15 minutes to explain solutions to the evaluation committee.
Stakeholders benefits – gathering new ideas for business development.
Organizer benefits – many companies – social partners of the event gathered. Popularization of the PE concept and increased awareness among businesses.
Participant Benefits – be able to communicate directly with business representatives, make useful connections for the future, learn to formulate essential questions, and find as many answers as possible in a short period of time. Be able to summarize the answers as a team and present the results.
Gathering new ideas for business development and many opportunities can be found also in the added value section.
Limited time for the task.