The French National Confederation of Junior Enterprises (CNJE) has decided to organize a one year discussion about the current educational system in France. Through the organization of three events which aimed at gathering politicians, specialists of the educational world and students, the Junior Entrepreneurs movement hopes to take a role and to raise the question of the place of Youth and education in Europe. Regarding the current financial and economic situation, the European students hope to see a positive involvement of the European Union in favor of a qualitative educational system. In order to propose, to act and to debate about the future of the European schools and universities, the Junior Enterprise movement plans to take a role by raising questions and encourage the involvement of students. This social initiative aims at giving a chance to any students in France and in Europe to have the opportunity to be more directly involved in its environment and to start becoming an actor in this globalized world.

Because they are directly concerned with those issues, because their ideas can benefit from our continent and because students want to prepare the future in this context of uncertainty and instability, these student associations, called Junior Enterprises, which are implanted in a lot of French universities and private schools are motivated to get involved in this problematic. A Junior Entrepreneur is, by definition, a student who is working in a Junior Enterprise. This concept, born in France in 1967, defines these student-run businesses which aim at proposing to students to put directly into practice their learning’s through the realization of market studies, communication plans, marketing analysis, creation of Website, launch of Web applications, or other engineering services for SMEs, multinational companies, and public institutions. Thus acting like young consultants for companies. Following the motto “learning-by-doing”, these students bring the gap between academia and real business world.

With more than 160 associations, 17 000 students and an 8 million euro annual turnover, the French confederation aims at playing a role in the question of higher education in France. 2012 will be a presidential election year, that’s why this question will probably take an important place in the political debates. How to dynamism the educational system of a country? How can we judge the educational system in France? What are its strengths? Its weaknesses? What about the other systems, particularly in Europe? To try to answer to some of these questions, the CNJE is inviting personalities from the educational and political world. With ministries, directors of schools or universities, the question of the educational system in Europe will be analyzed by specialists but also by students and especially by Junior Entrepreneurs. Thanks to a national survey and the participation of Junior Entrepreneurs, the redaction of a White book should allow bringing the opinion of the new generation and today’s actors directly to the leaders of our planet. The first round of discussion will start by analyzing the specificities of the French model compared to the rest of Europe and especially the question of this dual system, unique in the world: universities vs private engineering or business schools. The second round deals with the position of French students in Europe regarding different program such as ERASMUS program or the evolution seen since the signature of the Bologna Process. The third and last round finally raises the question of professional insertion of the new generation. How can we adapt the educational system regarding the professional world? What king of bridge can we build between these two worlds?

The Junior Entrepreneurs movement is in favor of an easier way to move from one country to the other to benefit from a multi-national education. This is why the concept of Junior Enterprise exists in more than 15 countries in Europe. Under the European Organization, named JADE (Junior Association for Development in Europe), these new generation of European students try to build bridges across borders and collaborate directly on projects for their clients. They all hope that their nations will continue to understand that an adapted educational system is a key element for the European Union in terms of growth, productivity and a message of tolerance and exchange. Through the globalization, the way to see the education today is far different from what it used to be. To rebuild our model, to adapt and to continue to work on it, to make direct and concrete proposals, Junior Entrepreneurs hope now that they can be heard in the future. Taking into account new generation’s expectations and vision can be a way to overcome today’s difficulties and to prepare the future.

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Benjamin HERMER

Student at EUROMED Management, business school of Marseille. After two years of experience in a Junior Enterprise, he became international manager for the French Confederation, in charge of international collaboration, projects and exchanges.