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1. Policy Framework

2. Formal learning

3. Non-formal and informal learning

4. Educators support in entrepreneurship education

Policy Framework

The role of the National Youth Strategy

There is no specific governmental strategy regarding the development of entrepreneurship competence, but the topic itself is addressed in various strategical documents. The National Youth Strategy 2009-2024 [(Nemzeti Ifjúsági Stratégia 2009-2024 (referred hereinafter to as NYS)] lists the following objectives under the subheading of 'Acquiring work experience, employment' in the chapter about self-sufficiency:

• To facilitate the operation and maintenance of enterprises started by young people.
• To promote the acquisition of economic, financial and labour market knowledge and experience in public education.

The most recent action plan of the Youth Strategy aimed to foster youth entrepreneurship via direct subsidies and education.

Strategy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

The Hungarian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Strengthening Strategy 2019-2030 (A Magyar Mikro-, Kis- és Középvállalkozások Megerősítésének Stratégiája 2019-2030) adopted by the Government in 2019, gives priority to the development ability, the development of the innovation skills and the digital performance of the entrepreneurs. Another main aim is to support entrepreneurs to acquire the required knowledge and to strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship. This pillar of the strategy is most relevant for young people because it includes

• the development of entrepreneurial thinking in formal education,
• the promotion of entrepreneurship,
• connecting young people who obtained their higher education degrees with small and medium enterprises.

European Money Week

In this spirit, an initial called European Money Week (Pénz7 in Hungarian) has started between 2015 and 2016, which is running in 23 countries of Europe, and which aims to

'support consumers from an early age who have the financial knowledge and hold their fate in their hands, and help awareness-raising on financial consciousness. [The organisers and the audience] can meet through several channels with the series of events of the European Money Week, such as professional events; special events in schools, and playful competitions.'

The Hungarian Banking Association (Magyar Bankszövetség) is the main organiser of the programme, in cooperation with Money Compass Foundation (Pénziránytű Alapítvány). In 2017, the project owner, the former Ministry of Human Capacities, integrated the programme into the academic school year. As of 2022, other ministries and civil organisations support the implementation of the programme:

• the State Secretariat Responsible for Public Education under the Ministry of Interior (Belügyminisztérium),
• Ministry for National Economy (Nemzetgazdasági Minisztérium),
• Ministry of Finance (Pénzügyminisztérium),
• Junior Achievement Foundation (Junior Achievement Alapítvány).

In 2021 and 2022, the number of students participating in European Money Week increased. 170 thousand students from 1 000 schools registered and a total of 1 150 volunteers from the fields of finance and entrepreneurship provided support in the classroom in the last two years. In 2023, 1 100 schools joined and 145 000 students participated in the programmes.

Formal learning

Entrepreneurship in the National Core Curriculum

In the National Core Curriculum (Nemzeti Alaptanterv), adopted in 2020, the 'Employee, innovative and entrepreneurship competencies' is one of the seven key competencies.

This topic appears in the frame of Citizenship studies in secondary grades. The student has to be able to interpret the factors that affect starting an enterprise. Also, the student has to learn to apply their financial knowledge in the situations related specifically to their age (such as preparing a simple budget, currency exchange, planning a student enterprise), by the Geography subject. The Audio-visual and Media Knowledge subject provides the necessary entrepreneurial competencies to the student by learning and using the tools of modern technology.

Besides the obligatory study materials there are two framework curricula related to entrepreneurship that contain optional courses the schools may offer:

• for grades 7-10 the 'Let’s start an enterprise' and 'Economic and financial culture',
• for grades 11-12 the 'Ethical entrepreneurial knowledge' framework curriculum.

Vocational education

A number of public and private institutions offer programmes in entrepreneurship. These are designed to continue studies and often focus on specific areas of enterprise.

Higher education

More and more higher education institutions are starting to offer courses on business and start-ups, which also helps to build a mentoring system.

In addition, several public higher educational institutions offer business courses, for example,

• the Corvinus University of Budapest,
• the MBA education of Budapest University of Technology and Economics,
• the Budapest Business School.

The International Business School and the Department of Economics and Business of Central European University are private institutions where business courses are also available.

Non-formal and informal learning

The recognition of non-formal and informal learning appears in the context of business start-ups in the Hungarian youth policy, where the framework conditions of non-formal and informal learning are also considered as areas to be promoted alongside public education, but in more detail in the areas of culture and human rights.

Educators support in entrepreneurship education

The European Money Week provides also the opportunity to teachers to organise events in their schools related to the development of entrepreneurial skills and the introduction of experience-based entrepreneurial skills. The Junior Achievement Foundation (Junior Achievement Alapítvány) coordinates the involvement of entrepreneur volunteers who can present the topic in practice and inspire the students. It provides also teacher training materials that the teachers can use in the schools accordingly to the local needs and the knowledge level of the students. 

Furthermore, the Junior Achievement Foundation (Junior Achievement Alapítvány) has a website where online trainings are available for students and teachers on various topics related to entrepreneurship. The aim is to support youth to become successful entrepreneurs, leaders, employees and a competitive workforce through the acquired professional knowledge.