SPŠ Zengrova: Engaging in Entrepreneurship to Empower Students
The Secondary Industrial School Zengrova is set to participate in entrepreneurial workshops, competitions, and project days, with a long-term goal of establishing its own school-based business. The school’s entrepreneurial initiatives will be coordinated by Ing. Andrea Modrovská, a teacher of vocational subjects. In an interview, she shares insights into how the school is developing key skills such as critical thinking, financial literacy, and project management, and how collaboration with the Moravian-Silesian Technological Academy (MTA) is benefiting students.
1. Why did you decide to focus on fostering entrepreneurship among your students?
By promoting entrepreneurship, we help students gain confidence and motivation to start their own ventures. Engaging in these activities can have a lasting positive impact on their careers and personal lives. Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business—it’s about developing a wide range of skills and competencies that are essential for success in today’s world.
We aim to prepare our students for future challenges and opportunities, whether they decide to pursue their own business ventures or seek employment in their chosen field. We strongly believe that supporting entrepreneurial skillsis the key to their future success.
2. What skills and competencies do you consider essential for fostering entrepreneurship among your students?
There are many skills and competencies that contribute to entrepreneurship, and it’s difficult to pinpoint just a few key ones. However, the ability to generate new ideas and find solutions is at the core of entrepreneurship. We encourage students to think innovatively and solve problems efficiently.
We focus on developing their critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, self-confidence, and resilience. Understanding finance and money management is also crucial for any entrepreneurial endeavor.
Additionally, we introduce students to project management techniques and time management, guiding them to effectively utilize digital tools and technologies to support their entrepreneurial activities.
3. How did your school become involved in the entrepreneurship initiatives led by the Moravian-Silesian Technological Academy?
The Manager of School Entrepreneurial Centers, Sylva Sládečková, reached out to our school to present the available entrepreneurial programs and opportunities. Given the variety of activities and the flexibility of the initiative, we did not hesitate to join. We are excited to be part of this inspiring community, and we look forward to expanding our students’ entrepreneurial potential.
4. What specific activities or programs will you be organizing to support entrepreneurship through MTA?
There are many activities and programs we would like to participate in, as the opportunities are truly engaging.
Given our time constraints, we will gradually select activities and involve as many students as possible. Initially, we will prioritize competitions and entrepreneurial workshops. Selected students will then attend business camps, where they can work on their own entrepreneurial projects, meet inspiring personalities, and gain valuable experience. Over time, we will seek out successful entrepreneurs who can serve as role models and inspire our students. Lastly, we plan to support these initiatives with project days. Establishing a school-run company is one of our long-term goals.
5. What are your future goals in fostering entrepreneurship? Are there any new activities or approaches you plan to implement?
Our primary goal is to establish a school-run company that will provide students with real-world experience and help them develop essential entrepreneurial skills. We want to show them that entrepreneurship is accessible and achievable. We aim to engage all students who are interested in exploring this field.
As the entrepreneurship coordinator, I also plan to continue my professional development in this area and share experiences with other schools and external organizations. We will gradually work on introducing new activities, as there are many possibilities—from organizing school-wide events to developing and selling our own products and services. To make this initiative meaningful and successful for everyone involved, active participation from students, colleagues, and industry partners will be key.
This project is implemented with the support of the TPA Project – Innovation Center for Education Transformation – CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000072, funded by the Operational Program for Just Transition (OPST) of the State Environmental Fund.
