From routine to initiative: How to think and act like a change-maker
Entrepreneurship is a way of doing things, not a business card.
Entrepreneurial competence is the power to transform ideas into actions that create value. It is not tied to owning a business but to the ability to improve, innovate, and solve problems in any context.
Whether improving a group project or launching a local initiative, the entrepreneurial mind finds ways to act rather than wait. It is about:
- MINDSET
- INITIATIVE
- OWENERSHIP
This is a life skill for everyone. In a world of constant change, those who can think and act entrepreneurially will thrive.
What if every student could be a change-maker?
- Entrepreneurship is a way of thinking and doing, not a title.
It’s about energy, creativity, and having the courage to make small and big changes. - People with this mindset see opportunities where others see problems.
They ask: “What can I do differently? How can I make an impact?” - This is for everyone, everywhere.
Trainers, students, or employees—all can apply entrepreneurial thinking to create value.
Skills that outlive any job description
|
Technical skills open doors, but entrepreneurial skills keep them open. The labor market wants problem-solvers, adaptable thinkers, and proactive individuals. |
EntreComp prepares learners for the unpredictable. By teaching initiative and adaptability, we create individuals ready for both current and future challenges. |
It also energizes classrooms and boost morale for students. Students learn to connect their studies with real-world needs, making learning meaningful and dynamic. |
|
A compass for turning ideas into reality
|
 |
From spark to reality: The entrepreneurial journey
|
1 Ideas & Opportunities |
2 Resources |
3 Into Action |
|
Where creativity starts—identifying needs and generating ideas that matter. |
Building the confidence, networks, and motivation to act on those ideas. |
Turning plans into real-world initiatives while learning from every success and setback. |
Unlocking the DNA of entrepreneurial thinking
Think of these competences as a Swiss Army knife. Each is a tool that can help learners navigate challenges, regardless of their career path.
|
1.1 Spotting opportunities |
1.2 Creativity |
1.3 Vision |
1.4 Valuing ideas |
1.5 Ethical & Sustain. thinking |
|
2.1 Self-awareness and efficacy |
2.2 Motivation & perseverance |
2.3 Mobilising resources |
2.4 Financial and Econ. literacy |
2.5 Mobilising others |
|
3.1 Taking the initiative |
3.2 Planning and management |
3.3 Coping with risk & ambiguity |
3.4 Working with others |
3.5 Learning through experience |
From curious beginners to confident leaders
The framework describes growth in 4 stages
- Each stage builds on real experience
Students climb this “spiral” by doing, reflecting, and improving. - Even small projects can start the climb!
Progress is measured by initiative and growth, not perfection.
Different levels to assess learners’ progresses per each of the 15 competences
|
1. Foundation |
2. Intermediate |
3. Advanced |
4. Expert |
||||
|
Relying on support from others |
Building independence |
Taking responsibility |
Driving growth and innovation |
||||
|
Under direct super-vision. |
With reduced support from others, some autonomy and together with my peers. |
On my own and together with my peers. |
Taking and sharing some responsibilities. |
With some guidance and together with others. |
Taking responsibility for making decisions and working with others. |
Taking responsibility for contributing to complex developments in a specific field. |
Contributing substantially to the development of a specific field. |
|
Discover |
Explore |
Experiment |
Dare |
Improve |
Reinforce |
Expand |
Transform |
|
Level 1 focuses mainly on discovering your qualities, potential, interests and wishes. It also focuses on recognising different types of problems and needs that can be solved creatively, and on developing individual skills and attitudes. |
Level 2 focuses on exploring different approaches to problems, concentrating on diversity and developing social skills and attitudes. |
Level 3 focuses on critical thinking and on experimenting with creating value, for instance through practical entrepreneurial experiences. |
Level 4 focuses on turning ideas into action in ‘real life’ and on taking responsibility for this. |
Level 5 focuses on improving your skills for turning ideas into action, taking increasing responsibility for creating value, and developing knowledge about entrepreneurship. |
Level 6 focuses on working with others, using the knowledge you have to generate value, dealing with increasingly complex challenges. |
Level 7 focuses on the competences needed to deal with complex challenges, handling a constantly changing environment where the degree of uncertainty is high. |
Level 8 focuses on emerging challenges by developing new knowledge, through research and development and innovation capabilities to achieve excellence and transform the ways things are done. |
Creating new opportunities where few seems to exists
|
The fast-changing economy demand creative and resilient people
|
It’s a framework that energizes both trainer and learner.
|
EntreComp is not about writing endless plans—it’s about doing.
|
The four superpowers of entrepreneurial learning
EntreComp gives students tools to build soft skills like collaboration and problem-solving alongside technical know-how.
|
Curiosity Encourage students to ask “what if?” and explore new ideas. |
Resilience Teach them to see failure as feedback, not defeat. |
Responsibility Make students owners of their projects and ideas. |
Collaboration Show how diverse minds create stronger solutions together. |
Small projects, big shifts…
- Start with a small challenge that feels real to students
Even a 1-hour brainstorming session can plant seeds of initiative - Let students lead the process
Trainers act as facilitators, guiding without dictating. - Encourage reflection afterward
The lessons learned are as valuable as the outcome.
The EntreComp adoption in classroom settings are nearly limitless…
|
1 Identify 3 competences that you’re already promoting in your class – one per each training area |
2 Select the one that you would like to strengthen even further: focus on the competences with the least attention from learners |
3 Prepare a classroom activity to practice that competence in group(s)*. Plan a 30-minute for collective discussion afterwords |
*Feel free to take inspiration from the project-based learning activities that you will find as examples in the following trainings.
Key and final takeaways
- EntreComp gives structure to “soft skills,” making them concrete and easy to discuss
- When students can name and describe these competences, they gain better confidence
- Employers appreciate this language too, as it shows students understand their value beyond technical expertise
- EntreComp is about cultivating initiative, resilience, and creativity
- Trainers don’t need to reinvent everything. Small steps, like integrating creativity activities, already makes difference
- The goal is not to create entrepreneurs but proactive, adaptable people
Trigs for interactive reflections
|
1 Which of the three EntreComp areas do you naturally emphasize with?
|
2 Which of the three could you bring more into your teachings and classrooms?
|
3 Which recommendation(s) would you like to share with peers and colleagues?
|
