About the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education

Membership in the Consortium started with State Directors of Vocational Education who continue to be part of the Consortium leadership. Over the years, as the concept of entrepreneurship education spread to the broader K-12 education system and higher education, membership has expanded to include colleges and universities, local school systems, foundations, private businesses, and national organizations of many different types. Currently over 60 institutions and organizations - from inside and outside the US - are members of the Consortium.

Vision
An organization recognized as the national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education.

Mission
To champion entrepreneurship education and provide advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and resources nationally across all levels and disciplines of education, while promoting quality practices and programs.

Entrepreneurship programs meet the needs of many diverse groups:

• Areas in need of economic development consider developing an entrepreneurial culture a significant long-term strategy for creating jobs and wealth.
• Individuals who lose or give-up their jobs for any of a wide variety of reasons need to have the option to become self-employed, should the opportunity or need arise.
• Youth that come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can be motivated to learn and achieve once they are provided with the understanding that they can indeed accomplish their goals and dreams through entrepreneurship.
• Minorities who feel disenfranchised need experiences that enable them to see that they can make their own opportunities.
• Administrators who are anxious to prove the effectiveness of their schools should explore the possibility of motivating student learners by introducing the concept that they can be their own boss someday.
• Young women who have succeeded in corporate careers until they meet the "glass ceiling" find that starting their own business is an important option.
• Rural communities that lose their "best and brightest" youth to larger cities can see the importance of creating businesses at home, using the advantages of modern communications and transportation.
• Global business opportunities engaged by local entrepreneurial businesses may be the answer to losing local jobs. Creating new jobs is considered more effective than holding onto inefficient old jobs.
• Reducing business failure as a result of better education and training of our entrepreneurs is an economic benefit to all.

Consortium Goals

• Promoting the incorporation of entrepreneurship education across all levels of career technical and academic education, through infusion within existing courses and by the support of separate courses developed in entrepreneurship.
• Encouraging participation of partnerships with business, industry, agency and trade associations, and bringing together diverse groups within the consortium whose interests foster economic development through entrepreneurship education.
• Encouraging teacher education institutions and accrediting groups to incorporate competencies of entrepreneurship into teacher training curricula.
• Modeling research projects to recognize successful ventures into entrepreneurship and developing competencies of entrepreneurship.
• Sharing with consortium members the educational activities, programs and strategies being implemented to incorporate entrepreneurial concepts into the instructional and guidance service activities.
• Providing a focal point for the planning, organizing and promoting of entrepreneurship education efforts.
• Attracting members committed to the development and promotion of entrepreneurship education across the nation and the world.
• Positioning as the primary advocacy and resource group for entrepreneurship education for grades K-14 and adult ed.
• Striving to meet the needs of its members for materials and models of teaching entrepreneurship.

Consortium Officers and Staff

For a list of our current officers and staff please visit the Pressroom section of the Consortium website.