How to teach entrepreneurship at school? Via school’s own company.

Our school’s company is called Kisälli. It means medieval trainee and the logo symbolizes three “holy” things : schools, communities and companies. They three must work together ! We founded our school’s own company Kisälli 9 years ago (2003). We created our own small co-operative company with students and teachers. In the beginning students have to create name, logo, rules, branch, brochures and legislation issues and paperwork with authorities. This was real learning by doing with community and society. Why cooperative company? In Finnish legislation cooperatives are very equal and cheap. Every member of the company has only one vote. We thought that our business will also confirm democracy education. Starting costs were very low and school’s budget did not suffer. Cooperatives are easy-going platform for learning both coaches and students. Students run their own company Operative board consist only students. We have CEO, economical leader, secretary, marketing manager, project manager and lot of workers. One year more than 40 % of our 3rd graders worked in the company. Operative board pays the bills, salaries, taxes and make contracts. They have very responsible work to do and they have learnt a lot. Annual sales has been between 10 000-30 000 €/year. Our turnover and profit margin has been brilliant. Students work in different areas : -websites for companies -social media consulting -selling different goods -summer cafeteria -car washing -dog/cat sitter -snow removing -cleaning houses etc. Benefits Our students need more positive experiences from entrepreneurship studies and companies. This comes naturally in their own company. Working experiences is crucial also among high schools students. If you get know better different jobs, you never overlook any profession. Of course students get salary and get paid. We know that youngsters love some extra money. Obviously they understand better the value of money after they have earned the money themselves. Our youngsters need lot of information in economic issues in their own lives. How to spare and how to consume reasonable? It is very important to understand where the money comes and how we pay taxes. There is no free dinners and tax-free salaries !

What education can learn from golf ?Brilliant brand.

Great example of golf brand. Finnish Sauna driver.








Spring is coming soon and all the golfers collect their equipment and gears. Golf is the most productized brand in the world. If you are a golfer you know that very well. Golf markets are full of different gears and products. You can find clothes, underwear, shoes, caps, mugs and everything with golf brand. Even there are certain wines, deodorants, jewellery, cosmetics and energy drinks for golfers. Almost everything is linked to golf.

What about education branch ?

What is the most biggest industry and branch in the world ? Surprisingly is not the media, arms industry, trade or farming.The largest branch is education.Most of the people work in education jobs. Especially in Nordic countries education takes 1/3 of national annual budgets. Public sector and schools employ millions of people every country. Also education sector needs more brands, goods, labels and products. There are lack of good quality international and national brands.

Teachers as a product

Still there are lot of potentials to develop new equipment and articles in schools and institutes. We have all that human resources and knowledge to do that. In Finland our best brand is well-educated teachers. Now we need good knowledge and skills to sell that excellent product. Teachers are also sustainable and renewable resource.

Let’s work on it!

Italians do it better ?

Rope pulling Muurame-Cremona 3-1






Last week we had international guest from Cremona Italy. This student exchange has started few years ago and this was third exchange course with our schools. This kind of international contacts are marvellous places to learn more. We teachers should offer posibilities to our youngsters to have foreign contacts. What have learnt during this marvellous week ?

1. Italians have for sure learnt a lot Finnish habits,schools and family life in general. Italians lived in Finnish homes and families, so it obvious that they noticed what normal Finnish family do for breakfast, what are their hobbies, do they go sauna every day and so.

2. We all learnt speak more fluently English. Best part of the co-operation is to improve your self-esteem and encourage to meet different people. You understand the meaning of dialogue in communication.I believe that Finnish students spoke little better English than Italians. Thanks to world's best teacher training.

3. We teachers found out that we have quite different schooling systems. Allthought the education systems were different, schooling and teaching are very similar round the world. And teenagers have the same problems and same joys here and there. We teachers got new friends and colleagues in the south.

4. In my mind Italians have better social skills and they take rapidly contact to you. They got very good sense of humour and they are much more positive than us. We could learn more about their positive attitude instead of negative mood. Italians do the "small talk" better.

So people are still the best part of these exchanges. Friendship is unique and universal phenomenon. Our folks will see each other in October in Cremona.

Arrivederci !

Animoto project

Animoto is easy tool for making picture and video projects and presentations. Less than 30 seconds Anomoto projects are free. Here one example of Spring Ball 2012 presentation from Muurame High School. Enjoy the mood and magnificent dresses and dances !

Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.

Dialogue and trust

Are you reliable negotiator? Practice dialogue with trust.





Good negotiation skills are key to success. Good conversation and dialogue are simply win-win situations. Both sides win and get.

Before negotiation you should practise little. Focus on these issues :
-set some negotiation goals and targets
-think through negotiation process and your strategies
-recognise your negotiation styles and strengths
-stay calm and strengthen your self-esteem

Build confidential atmosphere and trust

How you can motivate people in decision-making ? If you know something about opposite side, it will help you talk about right things. Do your homework before meeting. Better you know your “clients”, better results you get. Use your knowledge of people and human nature. Personal feedback is always good.

How we can increase trust in meetings? Try these. Be open-minded for new ideas – also opposite statements can be innovative. Talk straight – it is better say also the bad things than be silent. Listening is gold. Do it carefully. It will increase approval and reliability. Be flexible but still be yourself!

Learn screencasting and few word of Finnish

Make your own screencasting with Screencast-O-Matic. This is totally free online screen recorder for instant screen capture. It is very easy !




Did you understand any Finnish words ?

One Finnish model of Entrepreneurschool

How we can get more active and self-confident citizens ? We have built several years Finnish Entrepreneurship studies and model of new school. Basic elements are :-team learning-project learning-personal development plan-coaching processRead more from Slideshare presentation below.Entrepreneurschool of jyväskylä area

View more presentations from Muuramen lukio.