Being Entrepreneurial 2023 – Skills for Change conference lands in Brussels

Brussels, 8 November 2023

The Museum of Natural Science, Brussels, saw a different kind of visitor as policymakers, educators, NGOs, entrepreneurs and those interested in entrepreneurial skills development descended on the Belgian capital’s prehistoric centre to dive into all things entrepreneurial.

Organised by Bantani Education as part of the EntreComp Synergies initiative of the European Union, Being Entrepreneurial is now in its second year. After the success of the 2022 edition, there was a real appetite for change and further developments, that eventually led to this year’s event. Gathering close to 100 participants from across Europe and beyond, the conference took inspiration from the current European Year of Skills to discuss how lifelong learning and skills development are essential in a variety of sectors.

Starting the day, Elin McCallum (Bantani Education), welcomed those gathered with a brief moment to remember last year’s event as well as to hear from several of the EntreComp Champions in the audience. The keynote speaker, Christoph Bretgeld (SkillLab) reflected on making skills visible. It can be difficult for individuals to recognise their skills, but also for employers to accurately describe the skills they are looking for when hiring. SkillLab uses artificial intelligence (AI) to develop innovative applications for career guidance and education ecosystems.

Dana Puia Morel (European Commission) has been championing EntreComp and entrepreneurial skills through several projects with a particular focus on women and girls, she spoke about the importance of being entrepreneurial itself, what that means for individuals and communities at large and how we can all stand to gain from developing these key life skills.

While the focus was on entrepreneurial skills, namely through the EntreComp Framework, other European competence frameworks were not forgotten throughout the day, including DigComp, GreenComp and LifeComp.

An incredible lineup of contributors

During the day, the event offered a unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights from an exceptional lineup of, panel discussions, workshops, lightning talks, and interactive sessions. If you’re eager to explore this outstanding lineup, dive into our event guide. There, you can discover more about the captivating topics that took centre stage throughout the day.

The EntreComp Champion Award Ceremony

After a day filled with fantastic opportunities to learn and share, we wrapped things up with a bang at the EntreComp Champion Award Ceremony. Hosted by Elin McCallum and Dana Puia Morel, this ceremony shone a spotlight on EntreComp Champions from all corners of Europe and important figures in the field of entrepreneurship education.

Who are these EntreComp Champions, you ask? Well, they’re exceptional individuals and organisations recognised through the EntreComp Awards—an initiative of the European Union, brought to you by the EntreComp Community.

This ceremony wasn’t just a wrap-up, it was a chance for us to cap off the day by throwing a celebratory spotlight on these incredible contributors and their outstanding efforts in the world of entrepreneurship. It was the perfect way to end a day packed with learning, sharing, and inspiration!

For more information about the event, visit the website. To stay up to date with all the latest developments from the EntreComp Community, register for an account or follow on LinkedIn, Instagram or X/Twitter.