The Erasmus+ project SELF – Solo Entrepreneurs Learning Framework, co-funded by the European Union, is pleased to announce the publication of its Transnational Summary Report, developed within Work Package 2 (WP2). The document consolidates the main findings emerging from the comparative needs analysis conducted across the European Union, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Slovakia. 

The report represents a major milestone for the SELF project as it transforms transnational evidence and entrepreneurial trends into a concrete pedagogical framework designed to support Higher Education students and young aspiring solo entrepreneurs across Europe. 

Rather than functioning as a purely analytical report, the Transnational Summary serves as a strategic bridge between research and educational innovation. The document explores:

• emerging trends in solo entrepreneurship; 
• barriers affecting aspiring self-employed professionals; 
• educational and competence gaps; 
• labour market transformations; 
• and the opportunities connected to entrepreneurial learning and self-employment pathways. 

The comparative analysis highlights a growing European interest in solo entrepreneurship, particularly among younger generations seeking:

• flexibility; 
• autonomy; 
• digital working opportunities; 
• and alternative career pathways beyond traditional employment models. 

At the same time, the report identifies several persistent challenges affecting the development of entrepreneurial pathways across Europe, including:

• fragmented entrepreneurial education systems; 
• limited practical learning opportunities; 
• gender inequalities; 
• administrative and institutional barriers; 
• rural–urban divides; 
• and insufficient integration of entrepreneurial competences within Higher Education curricula. 

One of the central messages emerging from the analysis is the mismatch between entrepreneurial aspirations and educational realities. While many young people express growing interest in self-employment and freelancing, they often feel unprepared to navigate the practical, financial, strategic, and emotional dimensions of solo entrepreneurship. 

The report also underlines the importance of moving beyond theoretical approaches to entrepreneurial education by promoting:

• experiential learning; 
• competence-based methodologies; 
• practical entrepreneurial exposure; 
• digital readiness; 
• and learner-centred pedagogies. 

A key added value of the Transnational Summary is its direct connection to the development of the SELF curriculum. The report explains how the findings collected across participating countries were translated into a structured educational framework aligned with the EntreComp competence model developed by the European Commission. 

The resulting curriculum includes seven dedicated training modules covering areas such as:

• self-employment awareness; 
• self-branding and market positioning; 
• financial literacy; 
• client acquisition and retention; 
• productivity and time management; 
• digital entrepreneurship; 
• and sustainable business growth. 

Through this competence-based approach, the SELF project aims to strengthen not only entrepreneurial knowledge, but also the mindset, confidence, adaptability, and resilience required to pursue solo entrepreneurship in contemporary labour markets.

The consortium believes that solo entrepreneurship should be recognised not as a secondary or fallback option, but as a viable, valuable, and increasingly relevant professional pathway within Europe’s evolving economic landscape.

In line with the project’s commitment to accessibility and Open Educational Resources (OER), the Transnational Summary Report is available:

• free of charge; 
• in open-access format; 
• and through the official SELF platform. 

The report is intended to support:

• Higher Education institutions; 
• educators and trainers; 
• policy makers; 
• entrepreneurship support organisations; 
• and all stakeholders interested in strengthening entrepreneurial learning and self-employment opportunities across Europe. 

The Transnational Summary Report is available through the official project platform: https://www.solobiz.eu/mapping.php?lang=EN

The SELF project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.