A CHALLENGE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
THE ENTERPRISE OLYMPICS 2002
Improving employability and enterprise skills through international co-operation and competition
Strand Focus
EMPLOYABILITY
Additional Factors: Enterprise, Citizenship
Summary
One of the highlights of the 5th International Partnership Conference in Edinburgh, EBP 2000, was the Global Enterprise Challenge, involving twelve teams of high school students in Scotland and eight teams in Dunedin, New Zealand, 12,000 miles (20,000 Km) away, using a video link to connect the two locations.
A delegate from Australia was very impressed by the event and suggested that next time a three-way link could be attempted. ‘Why stop at three?’ was the initial reaction, and thus the idea for the Enterprise Olympics was born. Developments in web technology made it possible to have multiple links, and over the next two years a coalition of partners across the world was forged and what started off as a dream became a reality in June 2002.
Support from NASA and WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) ensured that the event had credibility and guaranteed considerable media interest. The first Olympics of the modern era, in Athens in 1896, had twelve countries and 175 participants; the first Enterprise Olympics had nine countries and 550 participants, so we have made a promising start. In 2003 we hope to double the numbers.
What follows is an account of a ground breaking innovative and exciting event that brought young people from different cultures and countries around the world together in friendly competition on an important global theme.
Author and prime contact:
Gordon McVie, Enterprise Education Manager, Careers Scotland
150 Broomielaw, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8LU
T: +44 (0) 141 228 2862 F: +44 (0) 141 228 2851
E: gordon.mcvie@scotent.co.uk
THE ENTERPRISE OLYMPICS 2002
Improving employability and enterprise skills through international co-operation and competition
Strand Focus
EMPLOYABILITY
Additional Factors: Enterprise, Citizenship
Summary
One of the highlights of the 5th International Partnership Conference in Edinburgh, EBP 2000, was the Global Enterprise Challenge, involving twelve teams of high school students in Scotland and eight teams in Dunedin, New Zealand, 12,000 miles (20,000 Km) away, using a video link to connect the two locations.
A delegate from Australia was very impressed by the event and suggested that next time a three-way link could be attempted. ‘Why stop at three?’ was the initial reaction, and thus the idea for the Enterprise Olympics was born. Developments in web technology made it possible to have multiple links, and over the next two years a coalition of partners across the world was forged and what started off as a dream became a reality in June 2002.
Support from NASA and WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) ensured that the event had credibility and guaranteed considerable media interest. The first Olympics of the modern era, in Athens in 1896, had twelve countries and 175 participants; the first Enterprise Olympics had nine countries and 550 participants, so we have made a promising start. In 2003 we hope to double the numbers.
What follows is an account of a ground breaking innovative and exciting event that brought young people from different cultures and countries around the world together in friendly competition on an important global theme.
Author and prime contact:
Gordon McVie, Enterprise Education Manager, Careers Scotland
150 Broomielaw, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8LU
T: +44 (0) 141 228 2862 F: +44 (0) 141 228 2851
E: gordon.mcvie@scotent.co.uk