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Project ECOLAB: Economics and the Working World
ECOLAB is intended as a contribution to both the education in economics as well as to the career orientation of the young. Young people require a basic knowledge of economic structures, problems and development not only in their own country but also in Europe and the global world of economics and labour at large. Only on this basis can they develop their own life- and career planning. At the same time they should regard the educational and career possibilities in other European countries as personal opportunities and include them in their planning. The positive developments in the economic, social and humanitarian order as well as the opportunities in the personal organisation of their lives that the unification of Europe makes possible are significant features of the project. For the young should regard themselves-and this is the admittedly challenging central idea behind ECOLAB-as European economic citizens (reminiscent of the term Homo economicus ('economic Man') and comport themselves accordingly. This idea entails that they are more than simply consumers and future employees. The inclination and the ability to make political decisions and to behave as socially and economically responsible human beings is also implied in the term economic citizen.
ECOLAB is designed to encourage teaching staffs and schools to cooperate with colleagues and partner schools in other countries, not only in furthering language facility and supporting intercultural projects, as has been the case up to now, but also by supporting education in economics and career planning.
ECOLAB appeals first and foremost to teaching staffs in comprehensive schools that offer subjects such as economics, cultural studies, politics and social studies, but also to those who educate, train and advise teachers. ECOLAB has conceptualised such training, which is in part in place and under evaluation. The training courses allow teachers to acquire knowledge of economics or deepen their experience of the world of work. They gain practice in bringing innovating thinking into economic education and recognise possibilities for encouraging the young in their career preparations and planning for the future. They know that the conditions for young people in these respects vary widely. Many require individual personal attention and special support programmes. Careers choices still largely follow traditional patterns that often stifle the chances for young males and females. These problems are known to teachers and inform their pedagogical orientation. Their concrete behaviour leads ideally to a school programme of a systematically career-oriented and life-planning character.
In support of further teacher training four modules, which will appear in the project's Web site, will be systematically developed, tested and revised. Later they will also be published as a CD. These modules are as follows:
Households and Consumption Companies and Production Internationalism and Globalisation Work and Preparation of the Young for the World of Work
The modules appear in English and the languages of the countries involved in the project, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania and Turkey.
Project aims
Teachers
have fundamental knowledge in the economy and labour market and to general aspects of prevocational education
are able and willing to realize modern and interesting lessons and a systematic prevocational education of young people.
Students
know economic actors and institutions, their activities and relations at private, company and economic level
understand basic economic concepts and apply them to concrete matters, in particular economic principles, market mechanisms, price fixing, competition, cycle
know and understand the modern labour market and its continual change
are able to develop their own life plan and labour market related self-conception
should be encouraged to integrate chances of vocational training, studies and chances for jobs in other European countries in their personal plans.