Launched in 1919, the JA Company Programme offers young people aged 15-19 the opportunity to learn how to move a business idea from concept to reality. Through learning-by-doing activities, mentoring from experienced business people and entrepreneurs, team work and competitions, the programme offers students a high-impact, one-year practical entrepreneurship experience (+100 hours).
JA Company Programme is recognised by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General (today known as DG GROW) as a ‘Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education’.
The JA Company Programme is based on a clear set of steps and learning outcomes and mainly focused on learning-by-doing methodologies and practical application of students’ basic skills. As part of the programme, students working in teams, develop the ability to generate ideas and turn them into action, learn how to work in a team, take initiative and accept responsibility; they experience what it means to manage a real enterprise; they understand how economics and finance contribute to the project’s success; they apply their competences in a practical way. By the end of the programme, they participate in trade fairs and national and international competitions where they can interact and compete with other teams from other countries.