UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBÆLT Entrepreneurship and education The 29th of April 2013 Welcome and introduction Erik Knudsen, Rector, University College Lillebaelt

 Welcome to all of you ♦ European guests from the European regions, from the European Commission., from the European Parliament and from the EU Committee of the Regions ♦ The YEDAC project ♦ All conference participants  Welcome to the European conference on Entrepreneurship and Education

 I am the rector of University College Lillebaelt, head of a university of applied science which ♦ offering professional education on bachelor degree-level  including teacher education and in-service teacher training ♦ and are in a proces of building up innovative research centers  We are as a university of applied science engaged in the ongoing development of society, and it is therefore a special pleasure for me to welcome a conference at UCL about entrepreneurship and education

 I am also happy to welcome you to at this conference that brings together ♦ Politicians and researchers ♦ Enterprises and education ♦ on both a Regional and European level  to a common discussion of  Entrepreneurship and Education

 Entrepreneurship and education is more central than ever, because of ♦ The economic crisis combined with the challenges that all welfare-systems are facing ♦ And the general challenges that all european countries faces with low economic growth and lack of competitiveness.  Europe need to improve its ability to foster more entrepreneurs and new innovative enterprises.

 And on the same time Europe is also facing challenges in the school systems ♦ The 21 st century knowledge society is asking for new competences ♦ Digital learning tools and the internet have made knowledge availed 24 hours and creates new roles for teachers and pupils and challenges our educational system and the way we are organizing it

 This conference brings together all these issues: economic growth, innovative enterprises and the school in the 21 st century.  The different perspectives as well as the conference here to today are brought together by the YEDAC project which you will hear more about in a moment.  Once again welcome to University College Lillebælt to this conference and welcome to an interesting and inspiring day here in Odense – the city of Hans Christian Andersen – the famous fairy tale-writer.