Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
May 18, 2010
The following statement was given
today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister
of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development:
Teacher Resource to
Stimulate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Today's youth are the building blocks of
our province's future.
As reflected in the Speech from the
Throne, Budget 2010, the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, and
the actions of all Provincial Government departments, supporting the
development of the province's youth is a high-priority.
The youth-related initiatives of the
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development are largely based
on the long-standing Getting the Message Out Program and Innovation
Newfoundland and Labrador: A Blueprint for Prosperity.
We are motivated by the goal of
developing future leaders in business, academia and the public service.
We believe that it starts by fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial
spirit among youth at the junior high and high school levels.
Today, I am pleased to stand in this
Honourable House to announce the launch of a province-wide youth
innovation and entrepreneurship initiative — the Youth Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Teacher Resource Manual that will be delivered to
junior high and high school students as part of their curriculum in fall
2010.
The manual is an extension of the Getting
the Message Out program's classroom material that has been delivered by
teachers to students as part of the curriculum for the last five years.
Materials included in the manual will highlight for students how
innovation can be leveraged to create entrepreneurial opportunities, how
it benefits local communities, and how it strengthens the provincial
economy.
To best capture the interest of students
and stimulate discussion in the classroom, the manual includes a series
of case studies that profile local entrepreneurs who have experienced
success in a wide range of industries such as manufacturing, tourism,
and advanced technology.
In an increasingly competitive,
knowledge-driven business climate, the need to reach out to students is
great. The need may be even greater to help create awareness of the
possibilities that exist in Newfoundland and Labrador and to instill an
entrepreneurial spirit among youth for the long-term success of the
province.
Achieving our goals and opening the eyes
of youth to what is possible in Newfoundland and Labrador requires hard
work and extensive collaboration.
This new manual would not have been
possible without the ongoing collaboration between teachers and the
Departments of Education and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
To close, I would like to acknowledge the
important role that staff of the Department of Education played in this
initiative. Their work ensures that the new material is presented in an
easy-to-use format and consistent with the objectives of existing
curriculum.
2010 05 18
1:50 p.m.
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