Governments recognise that careers guidance, underpinned by accurate labour market information, can help learners make post-secondary education choices that match their interests, aptitudes and abilities, and lead to rewarding employment. For this reason, they have invested in building linked education/employment information systems and other information resources which are displayed on websites targeted to learners and their families. However, researchers and governments agree that these efforts are often ineffective in informing learners’ decisions – access to information is not sufficient to provide effective support to student choice. Drawing upon the insights of behavioural economics, this paper examines how learners access and use information, and what this implies for the design of public study and career choice websites that aim to effectively support student choice. The report also takes stock of the career guidance websites in use in the majority of OECD countries, and sets out to provide actionable advice for policy makers to guide the design of effective information policy levers that support student choice.

The FH Brandenburg is a relatively young university for applied sciences and plays a role in supporting regional development. While it has three departments: Engineering, Informatics and Media, and Business and Management, the FH Brandenburg specialises in Informatics and Business Informatics and has special study programmes in Security management, Medical informatics and Energy efficiency.

This report presents the findings of a review of current strategies and practices in entrepreneurship support provision at the Technical University Ilmenau. The report also presents a selection of international learning models with the aim of providing inspiration for new approaches at the Technical University Ilmenau.

This report presents the findings of a review of current strategies and practices in entrepreneurship support provision at the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden. The report also presents a selection of international learning models with the aim of providing inspiration for new approaches at the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden. The following questions have been investigated: What are current strategies and practices in university entrepreneurship support? How accessible is entrepreneurship support for students and graduates? How well is the university entrepreneurship support integrated into the wider local entrepreneurship support system? The report presents achievements and challenges in light of the above questions and advances recommendations for future action.

This report brings together findings from the case studies in Berlin and Rostock on how entrepreneurship support is organised, the activities in entrepreneurship education and start-up support, and the strategy behind. In addition, the report provides in its “fishing ideas from international good practice” section 13 short descriptions of how places and universities collaborate elsewhere in mobilising their talents for entrepreneurial action. These short case studies are intended to provide inspiration for both policy and local action on the key issues in making places conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation, in entrepreneurship education, and in making university entrepreneurship support systems work.

Eastern Germany is well on its way to becoming a modern economy and developing its high growth potential. Start-ups and young businesses have become key contributors to the region’s growth due to their dynamism and their capacity to renew the local knowledge base. In the context of a global economic crisis, we need to reflect upon the role of start-ups and their capacity to contribute to local economic development. Over the last years, the entrepreneurship activity gap between western and eastern Germany has been significantly reduced, leading to almost equal levels in both parts of the country. The total business start-up rate in Germany, amongst the age group 18 to 64 years, was 1.7 percent in 2007. The entrepreneurial potential however, especially amongst the highly qualified, is far from being exhausted.

This report brings together findings from the case studies in Berlin and Rostock on how entrepreneurship support is organised, the activities in entrepreneurship education and start-up support, and the strategy behind. In addition, the report provides in its “fishing ideas from international good practice” section 13 short descriptions of how places and universities collaborate elsewhere in mobilising their talents for entrepreneurial action. These short case studies are intended to provide inspiration for both policy and local action on the key issues in making places conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation, in entrepreneurship education, and in making university entrepreneurship support systems work.

In developing countries the loss of skills through emigration can have significant effects at the local level. It seems that better managing the migration process could be beneficial in promoting economic development and skills development in some regions. This chapter looks at emerging policies and local practice to better manage migration, and assesses the possible impacts that this can have on local development paths. The chapter draws on selected case studies and interviews in sending countries, including Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Mexico, Romania, and Sierra Leone as well as previous LEED work in Albania and Italy.

Entrepreneurship is considered a key driver of economic growth and job creation all over OECD countries. Within this framework, promoting youth entrepreneurship is an area of growing policy interest for OECD national and local governments. Public policy can play an important role in stimulating motivations and entrepreneurial attitudes in young people and to provide the right set of skills to start-up and run a business. For framework conditions conducive to fostering the development of talents and youth entrepreneurship, taking appropriate action at the local level is of crucial importance…