Engine - Education for Rural Entrepreneurship & Innovation

📍 7 May 2026 | Blisko Nauki Association meeting

How do international projects translate into real change for rural areas? 🌱
During an inspiring and workshop-style meeting with members, supporters, and collaborators of the Blisko Nauki Association, we explored the ENGINE project implemented under Erasmus+.

A special guest, Professor Katarzyna Żmija from the Krakow University of Economics – project coordinator – presented how ENGINE is developing innovative educational tools to strengthen entrepreneurial and innovation competences among young people interested in rural development.

We discussed key challenges such as rural depopulation and the need to better align education with the realities of entrepreneurship outside urban centres. 🌍

The meeting also offered a behind-the-scenes look at international cooperation within the ENGINE consortium, bringing together partners from Poland, Germany, Portugal, Greece, and Italy.

💡 Beyond ideas – practical insights into Erasmus+ project design, partnership building, and managing international collaboration.

A meeting full of inspiration, exchange, and shared commitment to supporting future rural leaders.

🌱 Virtuous Synergies Between National and International Projects

On 6 May 2026, the ENGINE Project took part in a unique outdoor learning experience hosted at Fattoria Rovello, an educational farm in the province of Foggia, Italy 🇮🇹

The initiative highlighted the strong synergy between the Italian NRRP-funded GPSeducation project and the Erasmus+ ENGINE project, both committed to sustainability, rural development, innovation, and international academic cooperation.

Students and academics from the University of Foggia, together with visiting professors from Hanoi University and Phenikaa University (Vietnam 🇻🇳), explored how educational farms can foster:
✔️ social inclusion
✔️ wellbeing
✔️ entrepreneurship
✔️ intergenerational learning
✔️ rural innovation

A particularly inspiring moment emerged during the visit to the museum of rural civilisation, where participants discovered striking similarities between traditional agricultural tools from Italy and Vietnam - proving how agricultural heritage can connect cultures and communities across borders.

The day also featured an open-air lecture on rural development and social innovation in Vietnam, as well as examples of social entrepreneurship practices implemented by Fattoria Rovello, including pet therapy activities for children and elderly residents.

This experience perfectly reflects ENGINE’s mission: empowering rural communities through innovation, collaboration, and inclusive learning environments.

🔗 Learn more about the project: https://engine.uek.krakow.pl/2026/05/08/virtuous-synergies-between-national-and-international-projects-an-outdoor-learning-experience/

🚀 Inspiring future students during Open Days 2026!

On March 25–26, the ENGINE project was proudly presented during the Open Days at the Krakow University of Economics. This event brought together a large group of young people exploring their higher education opportunities — and gave us a great chance to connect with them directly.

Together with the promotion of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programme Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Economy, we showcased not only study opportunities but also the broader vision behind the ENGINE project. Visitors could learn how we are shaping a more inclusive, context-sensitive approach to entrepreneurship education — especially with a focus on rural areas.

💡 Through conversations, presentations, and materials, participants discovered:
• the main goals of the ENGINE project
• key results developed so far
• upcoming activities and future plans

📸 See the full photo gallery and read more here: https://engine.uek.krakow.pl/2026/04/07/engine-project-dissemination-during-open-days-at-the-cracow-university-of-economics/

It was inspiring to see such strong interest and engagement from future students, who were encouraged to think about entrepreneurship beyond traditional, urban-focused models.

Events like this remind us how important it is to connect education with real-world challenges and opportunities 🌱

🚜 Are we teaching entrepreneurship in a way that truly reflects the realities of rural areas?

Now we move from why to how.
Within the ENGINE project, the Academic Standardised Content Plan for Rural Entrepreneurial Education offers a structured learning pathway built around five key blocks:

🌱 Block A: Foundations of Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
🕸️ Block B: Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystems and Rural Collaboration
📊 Block C: Management, Finance, and Marketing for Rural Initiatives
💻 Block D: Digitalisation for Rural Transformation
♻️ Block E: Sustainability, Quality, and Social Innovation

➡️ Together, they guide students from understanding rural challenges to creating sustainable, community-driven solutions.

What makes this approach different is the combination of business skills with place-based thinking and local engagement.

🌍 The plan is flexible, adaptable, and designed to support universities across diverse regional contexts.

🔜 It also lays the foundation for EDUPACK - a comprehensive educational tool that will be developed in the next project phase.

👉 Explore the Plan and see how entrepreneurship education can better support rural transformation:
https://engine.uek.krakow.pl/d3-02-academic-standardised-content-plan-for-rural-entrepreneurial-education/