04.03.2016

Latvians and the Dutch Triumph at Junior Achievement Latvia International Student Company Festival 2015

In this year’s International Student Company (SC) Festival SC Simple+ from Latvia, Madona State gymnasium triumphed in a concurrence between 11 countries and 59 companies. SC Re-Mixx and SC Double Tray from the Netherlands won the prizes in nominations of Innovative product and Best Stand. SC Re-Mixx also won the Junior Achievement Latvia ALUMNI International Potential award.

In the nomination Social Responsible business the award went to SC SMEJ UF from Sweden, the best sales team was recognized in SC Eureka from Turkey, best video advertisement – SC T-Inves which is also from Turkey.

Junior Achievement Europe CEO Caroline Jenner emphasizes: „About 14 million adolescents in Europe is out of education system and there is a very high rate of unemployment among them - average 21% in EU countries. Studies show that young people who in their school years have received a business education or career education experience for four times have lower chances of being unemployed in the future rather than those who did not receive any practical educational experience. This is the reason why these practical business educational methods such as Student company program are critically important in lowering the rates of youth unemployment and welfare promotion.”

CEO of Junior Achievement Latvia Jānis Krievāns acknowledges: “We are truly delighted that the main prize this year was awarded to SC Simple+ from Latvia. This is proof that the SC programs’ participant level in Latvia is on a very high scale and we create a convincing result in the international concurrence. A special thank you goes out to SC Simple+ teacher Iveta Vabule who is a true SC programs patriot and for many years has helped students develop viable business ideas.”

This year in the International SC festival in which the teacher conference and the SC trade fair took place, 214 students with 59 SC from Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Russia, Lithuania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Sweden and Latvia participated. Latvia was represented by 19 SC. The international conference gathered together 90 teachers.

SC were evaluated in six main nominations – Innovative business idea, Socially responsible business, Best sales team, Best stand, Best video advertisement and the chief winner – Best SC of 2015. Also an award from JAL’s previous year program alumnus was presented.

SC were evaluated by a team of experienced local and international business professionals and academic staff from Hansaworld, Swedbank, Rīga Plaza, Microsoft Latvia, Glimstedt and partners, Latvijas Valsts Meži, LDDK, LTRK, Latvijas Apdrošinātāju asociācija, Biznesa augstskola Turība, Banku augstskola, RTU Riga Business School, Inspired Academy, SIA Flora, DavanuServiss.lv, LETA, Dienas mediji and JAL program alumnus.

Business education organization Junior Achievement Latvia organized International Student Company (SC) Festival for the seventh consecutive year.