Transition Year

What does NFTE stand for?
NFTE stands for the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship

How long has NFTE been in the school?
NFTE has been run in Pobalscoil Neasain since 2006/07, when it was pioneered by Ms. Matthews. It was taken over in 2007/2008 by Mr. Coleman, continuing under his guidance in 2008/2009 with the assistance of Ms. Sexton. The programme is now in its' fourth year in the school.
What is the purpose of NFTE?
The official mission statement of NFTE is to:

"NFTE Ireland teaches entrepreneurship to young people to enhance their economic productivity by improving their business, academic and life skills."

How and where did NFTE start?
NFTE was first established in the US by businessman Steve Mariotti who demonstrated that showing young people how to make money through setting up and running their own business could enable them to make a better future for themselves. NFTE is now an international organisation bringing its experience to youth worldwide.

What can NFTE students expect of their year participating in the course?
NFTE students are required to develop a business during the year. They are supported and encouraged by their CET. Throughout the school year NFTE students meet local entrepreneurs and partake in wholesale and sales events while working through the curriculum. At the end of the year each student presents their business plan as part of the Irish Business Plan Awards. Each student business is also encouraged to apply for the International Business Plan competition, the winner of which gets a trip to New York to collect their prize.

How does NFTE see itself developing in Ireland into the immediate future?
NFTE Ireland has become embedded in the greater Dublin area and in Belfast. As additional funding comes on stream, development will be pursued in counties such as Limerick, Cork and Donegal. By 2012, NFTE will reach 2,100 young people aged 12 to 18 years per annum.

How has the effectiveness of the NFTE programme been researched and evaluated?

NFTE Ireland is measuring programme impact on young peoples lives through intensive research and evaluation.

Past evaluation
NFTE International has commissioned research in the US to evaluate programme effectiveness and impact in conjunction with Brandeis University, the Koch Foundation, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education www.nfte.com/impact. In September 2003 NFTE UK commissioned the Centre for Education and Industry (CEI) at the University of Warwick to explore how the NFTE supports learners, teachers and schools, and what skills and behaviours students were developing as a result of the programme.

Current evaluation
NFTE International is currently working with Brandeis and Harvard on a joint initiative to evaluate the impact of NFTE. NFTE Ireland carries out detailed pre and post evaluation with participants to measure changes in business knowledge and career and college aspirations. NFTE Ireland completes a detailed pre and post evaluation with BizCamp students.

Future evaluation
Relationships are being established with key individuals in the evaluation field in Ireland.
NFTE Ireland has commenced preparatory work on the introduction of Randomised Control Trials.