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The EntreComp Framework and Video Game Creation

Video Game Creation and Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship is a form of entrepreneurship where the main goals of an undertaking are not just profit-based, but also focused on reaching a social goal. It begins with the identification of a need that is currently not being met, and it develops into the establishment of an initiative that can contribute to this specific social cause. In the Video Games for Good project we integrate social entrepreneurship with the process of video game creation. This is an effective approach to building on both capacities, as it helps foster creativity and collaboration. The question remains, however, what does the EntreComp Framework have to do with this?

The EntreComp Framework

The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework is a framework established by the Joint Research Centre, the science and knowledge service of the European Commission. The EU considers strengthening the entrepreneurial abilities of its citizens as a key competence for lifelong learning. This means that the framework needs to be accessible to as many people as possible, and so it was created in a way that allows it to be a means for value creation in any sphere of life. The framework offers a structured approach to entrepreneurship, focusing on different stages of entrepreneurial development by emphasising the continuous cycle of learning.

The EntreComp Framework consists of three competence areas, which are further broken down in specific skills:

  1. Ideas and Opportunities. This involves spotting opportunities, developing creativity, the ability to envision projects, valuing ideas and developing ethical and sustainable thinking.
  2. Resources. This competence involves self-awareness and self-efficacy, having the power to motivate and persevere, being able to mobilise both resources as well as people and being economically and financially literate.
  3. Into Action. This last competence emphasises the need for initiative taking, for effective planning and management, for the ability to cope with uncertainty or risk, the need to work with others and the power of learning through experience.

Video Game Creation and the EntreComp Framework

Now that the aim of the EntreComp Framework is clear, we can also begin to understand its effectiveness in video game development. The EntreComp Framework has three main ways in which it translates into the process of video game creation:

  1. Creativity and iteration are at the heart of both the framework and video game creation. Ideas are continuously adapted and improved based on available resources, technical issues, market potential  and user feedback. The constant potential for improvement, as well as the need to use creativity to change a game, are capacities reflected in the competencies of Ideas and Opportunities and Resources.
  1. The process of video game development is rarely a solo endeavour. Collaboration is required in two ways. Firstly, there is the need for multidisciplinarity, as the development of an undertaking rarely comes down to a single capacity, but often involves having knowledge of, for example, economics, marketing and a specific product. Secondly, there is a need for diversity in cooperation. To bring any undertaking to life, cooperation across professions is needed. The abilities of a designer will be different from those of a sound engineer or programmer. The Framework emphasises this by its focus on mobilisation and teamwork.
  1. The Framework, just like video game creation processes, is an action-oriented approach. It attempts to move potential entrepreneurs to turn theoretical knowledge into practical results. Tangible results are an important driving force behind progress, and this is something that we can see reflected in video game creation, from designing game concepts to the actual launch of the end product. This practical approach is what makes the framework so suitable for not just formal, but also informal learning environments.

The power of this project lies in the intersection between social entrepreneurship, the EntreComp Framework and video game creation. By combining these three factors, a powerful way of creating societal impact is created. The framework is the backbone that can offer structure through its simplification of the process and the required capacities. The combination of all three leads to innovative and practical approaches that go further than just a theoretical focus.

Sources:

 

 

  • Worsham, E. L. (2012). Reflections and Insights on Teaching Social Entrepreneurship: An Interview With Greg Dees. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(3), 442–452. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2011.0024

 

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