RInovatoRI - encouraging entrepreneurial competences of children

Regular curriculum of Croatian primary education does not contain in sufficient scale the activities supporting the development of entrepreneurial skills of children. To bridge that gap, City of Rijeka launched 1st program for encouraging the development of entrepreneurial competencies of children in the year 2008, as a pilot project, along with City institution Youth Center Rijeka responsible for implementation. In the year 2018 the program was improved and redesigned into new brand RInovatoRI. It consists of 3 main program sections: (1) Regular program: weekly workshops during school year with study visits, case studies, guest lecturers and field activities, (2) Weekend School of Entrepreneurship: 3-days workshops with trainers and external experts/mentors on specific topic in castle Stara Sušica with an aim to develop an innovative product prototype, (3) Summer RInnovation Lab: 3-week summer workshops and study visit around topical issue resulting with innovative ideas and solutions. Thematic focus of RInovatoRI program varies from STEAM topics (e.g. use of Artificial Intelligence, Smart and 3D technologies, Creative industries) to more common fields – SWOT analysis, business model canvas, social media, 4P etc. The program is also addressing actual issues, such as innovation in the times of pandemic, internet security, business ethics, sustainability and innovative tourism. The program beneficiaries are pupils of higher grades of Rijeka’s elementary schools, age 11-14.