Vitality to cities with entrepreneurship education
They want to take the Äänekoski concept as a model elsewhere

The planned and long-term entrepreneurship education of the city of Äänekoski is to be followed as a model elsewhere. The city of Jämsä got to know the entrepreneurship education and curriculum of the city of Äänekoski, and what entrepreneurship education has achieved in Äänekoski. There have also been contacts from other cities.
In accordance with the national curriculum, entrepreneurship and working life skills must be taught in all schools in Finland. Äänekoski's entrepreneurship curriculum supports the national curriculum - it works a bit like an Äänekoski supplement. Äänekoski invests in entrepreneurship education as planned and long-term. Entrepreneurship education works uniformly in all Äänekoski schools and grade levels, and also as a support for other learning and as an enlivening of different subjects.
- Many Finnish municipalities are now looking for answers to questions about the development of entrepreneurship education. As a pioneer, we at Äänekoski have answers. Other cities have been particularly interested in how much resources have been needed for this and what kind of experiences students, teachers, principals and companies in the area have, Äänekoski Entrepreneurship Education's Responsibility Teacher Mika Matilainen says.
The city can become known for its entrepreneurship education
Pedagogical expert of Jämsä city's revitalization activity Seppo Savo visited Äänekoski last week to learn about exemplary entrepreneurship education work. We definitely want to continue cooperation between cities in entrepreneurship education. A network of entrepreneurship education teachers has also been planned.
- The city can become known as a center for entrepreneurship education and skills. This can attract students and experts to the city, which can increase the city's knowledge base. Entrepreneurship is often the engine of economic growth. Entrepreneurship can promote the economic sustainability of the entire province by diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on individual large employers, Seppo Savo sees.
Äänekoski's entrepreneurship education aims above all to support children and young people in building their own future and help everyone find their own strengths, foster a positive entrepreneurial attitude and promote the emergence of internal entrepreneurship. By teaching working life skills and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes, the vitality of not only the city but also the entire province is supported.
Building the future starts at school
Entrepreneurship education teaches children and young people financial literacy, budgeting and risk management. These skills are useful in all areas of life.
- The labor market is constantly changing, and many traditional jobs may disappear. Entrepreneurship education can help young people prepare for the working life of the future, where entrepreneurial skills, such as self-management and problem-solving ability, are valuable lessons that entrepreneurship education creates, says Savo.
As a result of long-term entrepreneurship education in Äänekoski, the summer entrepreneurship of young people in particular has been on the rise. More and more young people from Anukkoski employ themselves in the summer.
- However, the goal of entrepreneurship education is not that everyone is wanted to become entrepreneurs of the future. Various work life skills and training for inner entrepreneurship will become part of the everyday life of Äänekoski schools. Skills can be, for example, being able to identify and talk about one's own strengths and skills, Matilainen describes.
- Young people are open to new ideas and ready to learn. Early exposure to entrepreneurship education and working life can help them acquire important skills and insights. All in all, supporting entrepreneurship education and early work experience can help young people develop versatile skills and prepare for future challenges, while promoting the economic growth and innovation of the locality and society, says Savo.
Entrepreneurship education is created through cooperation
Seppo Savo believes that it is not worth reinventing the wheel and Äänekoski already has a working concept that can be used as a basis and learned from elsewhere.
- But we in Jämsä are making the curriculum a Jämsä model that looks like the locality, Savo adds.
Even in Jämsä, entrepreneurship education is seen as a close part of the work of the entire city, management and vitality, and it is also done in cooperation with entrepreneurs in the area - entrepreneurship education is not a matter for schools alone.
At Äänekoski, cooperation with companies means, for example, business sponsorship, company visits, internships and mentoring. Matilainen thanks how wonderful and active business sponsors Äänekoski has and the cooperation has been rewarding in both ways.
- The school is not a separate island and here in Äänekoski, we want to keep the school doors open to the rest of society, says Matilainen.
For more information:
Mika Matilainen, Responsibility Teacher of Äänekoski City's Entrepreneurship Education, 040 624 0406, mika.matilainen@aanekoski.fi
City of Jämsa's pedagogical expert Seppo Savo, 044 493 9448, seppo.savo@jamsa.fi
News published 11.9.2023, modified 5.10.2023/14/13 at XNUMX:XNUMX