The University of La Laguna, with the support of the Vice-Ministry of Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, presented today, January 31, the results of its ten-year program.‘Teaching to become entrepreneurs’', an initiative carried out in educational centers to instill in young people an entrepreneurial and cooperative culture.
This project, run by the university's General Foundation, places students in the real-world situation of setting up a cooperative. They assign roles and responsibilities, participate in brand creation and product manufacturing, seek capital, and even manage the entity's incorporation, in this case with the support of local councils. A fair is held where students sell and promote their products, with the profits then donated to a non-governmental organization, thus fostering a spirit of solidarity among the participants.
The Deputy Minister of Employment, the Rector and the Managing Director of the General Foundation.
Thus, since the beginning of the project in 2010 and to date, a total of 489 cooperatives have been created in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in which a total of 10,285 students of all educational levels have participated, including Aula Enclave, TVA and Basic FP, with the involvement of 844 teachers and a total of 283 educational centers, thus exceeding all initial expectations, indicated Julio Brito, managing director of the General Foundation at the press conference held this morning.
One of the program's key values is cooperation, with everyone working toward a common goal. The program also emphasizes generational diversity—with both parents participating—and equal opportunities, creating equitable spaces for cooperation and preparing young people to embrace values of social transformation. Brito explained that acquiring these skills early on equips students with a foundation that will benefit them in their professional lives as adults.
The Deputy Minister of Employment, Isabel León, praised the participation of vulnerable groups in the project and considered that this realistic simulation of entrepreneurship will prepare its participants for the economic and social challenges of future generations. She also highlighted the public-private collaboration behind this initiative.
For his part, the rector of the academic center, Francisco García, expressed particular satisfaction with the results of this project, which he witnessed from its inception. In fact, he noted that these seeds sown today will improve the Canary Islands' entrepreneurship statistics in the coming years. He also maintained that the success is based on an "exemplary methodology," grounded in learning by doing, from the initial stages of creating the cooperative to generating economic benefits.
The rector also noted that this entrepreneurial attitude is highly relevant in all work environments, including the public administration, as it maximizes capabilities.
One of the students explains the purpose of her cooperative, which is dedicated to recycling.
individual and makes us more creative.
Several teachers and students present at the event shared their perspectives on the project. Teamwork, helping others, and collective effort toward a common goal were highlighted by those involved in this educational program.
The eleventh edition is now underway, with the participation of 73 registered schools and 2,500 students, supported by 500 teachers. The Canary Islands Employment Service, Cajasiete, the Dinosol Foundation, SatFast, and the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Development Corporation are participating in 'Teaching to Be an Entrepreneur'.
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