Investing in Europe’s Transformers Through Education and Innovation

KEY TOPICS

Opening and official launch of EE-Hub

The European Entrepreneurship Education Hub (EE-HUB) in Bulgaria is a joint policy-level initiative of JA Europe and Citi. Its goal is to bring together both public and private stakeholders with successful track-record in supporting the development of entrepreneurship education at regional, national and European level that will collaborate to increase the level of entrepreneurship activities across European schools.

Session 1: Where do we think Europe is today? New challenges.

The speakers in the first panel will outline the new challenges Europe is facing today – migration, social inequalities, deep social and cultural divisions, unemployment, drastic cuts of EU public investment in education (by 11%) – and their linkages with the quality of life. Each speaker in the panel will be asked to identify one area where they have seen progress and one area where there has not been progress.

Session 2: Human Capital

Through best practice examples, the speakers in this panel will offer a new perspective on why education and fostering personal responsibility can solve these new challenges. The world is changing, but education is still in the old paradigm. What is the new form of education? How can societies create “new” people who can solve new challenges, and have a happy life? What is the importance of the “human factor” (critical thinking, creativity, projects, learnability, emotions, calculated risk)?

Session 3: New Way Forward

The speakers in the third panel will share their inspiring insights in an attempt to answer key questions such as “What is the new Europe we are striving for?”, “What kind of a world do we want to live in?”

About JA Bulgaria

The mission of JA Bulgaria is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve their quality of life. We motivate young people to be active and proactive and prepare them to know how and be able to realize their ideas in a competitive environment.

Speakers

Gary Schoeniger

FOUNDER & CEO The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative

H.E. Mrs. Irit Lillian

Ambassador of Israel

Vladimir Urutchev

Member of the European Parliament

Anna-Marie Vilamovska, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Working Ideas, Member of the EC Digital Entrepreneurship Advisory Board

Iravan Hira

Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Bulgaria

Dr. Krassimira Chemishanska

Country Director of Amgen Bulgaria

Martin Kern

Interim Director and Chief Operating Officer at the European Institute of Innovation & Technology

Rumyana Trencheva

Managing Director for SAP South-East Europe

Dr. Solomon Isaac Passy

Bulgarian scientist, statesman and innovator

Sasha Bezuhanova

Founder and Chairperson of MOVE.BG

Elena Tosheva

Head of City.AI

Giulia Ajmone Marsan

Innovation Economist, OECD Center for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development

Emmanuel Artur

Managing director Nestle Bulgaria

The Impact of JA

Rosen Plevneliev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012-2017)

"I congratulate JA Bulgaria for the consistent and tireless work on the training and development of enterprising young Bulgarians. It is extremely important for young people to advance their skills and potential."

Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia.

"I want to congratulate JA Bulgaria because they are an organization that, despite the conditions, continues to invest in young people and helps them realize their fullest potential through education and first-hand experience."

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission (2004-2014)

"Schools need support to make entrepreneurship a reality for students and I congratulate JA for its successful programs in this field. They provide teachers, and schools with concrete programs, and allow students to learn how to put theory into practice and to understand what entrepreneurship is about."