SSE Riga empowers the next generation of social entrepreneurs by organizing training and an international contest
To increase awareness of social entrepreneurship, the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga), in cooperation with Riga State Gymnasium No. 2, runs an annual business competition on the topic.
8 teams of secondary school students (aged 16-19) from Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Ireland are currently mentored by SSE Riga students and faculty.
The teams consist of 2-5 students, and they have to prepare a business plan for social entrepreneurship and later pitch their ideas to experts. Presentations are evaluated by SSE Riga faculty and social entrepreneurship experts.
The objective of this initiative is to enhance secondary school students’ skills and knowledge and to develop personal traits that are needed for creative thinking in the area of socially responsible entrepreneurship
The competition also improves participants’ cooperation and presentation skills and helps to identify local social problems, which could motivate good business ideas.
According to Aivars Timofejevs, an entrepreneurship lecturer at SSE Riga and one of the contest organizers: “For a number of years SSE Riga and Riga State Gymnasium No. 2 have been organizing these very interesting and also supportive events to enhance the knowledge and skill development of students from different gymnasiums around the Baltic Sea region. The topic of the event is new every year to ensure that we cover a current and relevant societal topic. However, the topic is only part of the content that makes the whole event very attractive and beneficial for gymnasium students. Students are also provided with interesting lectures, mentoring and other support to develop their ideas into a real business idea.”