Promoting an entrepreneurial culture: Development, feasibility and acceptability of a primary school-based program focused on soft skills

Abstract

This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention program designed to foster soft skills among primary-school students. Conducted in Portugal, the program employed face-to-face sessions and involved 2958 fourth-grade students from nine municipalities. The program “Players of Dreams” (PD) [“Brincadores de Sonhos”] is an active learning approach that encourages students and other educational community members to engage actively in the learning process. The PD content was derived from a literature review and interviews with primary school teachers regarding the essential skills for success in life, like the considerable skills of an entrepreneurial culture. The PD program utilized group dynamics, pedagogical narratives/storytelling, visual thinking strategies (diagrams and illustrations), family involvement in activities, and specially prepared songs to facilitate learning. Teachers who implemented the program underwent 25 h of classroom training on entrepreneurial pedagogy and received a manual for conducting PD sessions. Students completed activities in their PD manuals and corresponding evaluation forms throughout the program The results provide preliminary evidence to support the benefits of implementing the intervention. The facilitators observed changes in student behavior related to the promotion of confidence, responsibility, sociability, and autonomy. The PD program shows promise for engaging young students and fostering the growth of an entrepreneurial culture. Future research could assess the effectiveness of PD in delivering education and support interventions, while longitudinal studies could provide valuable quantitative and qualitative data to inform educational policies for primary schools.