18 EDUCATION MATTERS JA Europe launched a new partnership with EIT RawMaterials to improve students entrepreneurial and STEM skills with a focus on the raw materials sector. The project aims to impact over 1200 young people aged 15-18 from academic and vocational schools in Romania and Bulgaria. Students take part in innovation camps as well as in the JA Company Programme before taking the ESP exam. RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT NEW INDUSTRIES AND RAWMATERIALS Education Marketing & Student Recruitment Manager, EIT RawMaterials Ferdinand BLUMER Bloomberg business volunteers helped coach JA mini- companies, in preparation for regional and national finals. Within the competition element, Bloomberg employees had the opportunity to join as jury members. JA alumni were also given the opportunity to visit the cutting edge offices of Bloomberg to learn what it means to work in journalism. Other groups also benefited from a CV writing masterclass, helping them bridge the gap from school to the world of work. GIVING BACK THROUGH VOLUNTEERING Anna MOLIN Social Media Reporter, Bloomberg LP Entrepreneurial skills are so important for young people because it opens up employment opportunities by making them more attractive on the job market. It could also pave the way for new innovations and businesses, thereby advancing the needs of society and creating jobs for others. Our vision at EIT RawMaterials is to make raw materials a major strength for Europe. One of the ways in which we are doing that is by educating young people and the wider society on the importance of raw materials and how they can contribute to a sustainable and strong future in Europe. It is great to see students really thinking about how the raw materials that they use can be reused and can contribute to sustainable businesses in the future.