In English

What are JA-YE Student companies about?

A JA-YE Student company is a practice enterprise founded and formed by student, which is in operation for one year (one term or one calendar year). The goal of Student Companies is to teach skills needed in working life and the attitude and methods needed in enterprise during school/study time. A Student Company is part of  JA-YE Company programme (for basic and middle-level education) or JA-YE Start Up programme (higher education).

A student company operates on real money and it can sell its products or services to clients. Operating on real money makes the programme more effective, increases the students’ motivation and brings elements of actual business life into the programme. By doing things in actuality makes them stay in mind longer. At the same time we encourage students to become active, independent and spontaneous builders of the future.

How does a Student Company work?

A Student Company operates like any actual company, offering its clients with products and services. The difference is that the Student Companies are run by young students and the company’s operations are restricted to one term. This sets limits for e.g. the company’s products and development possibilities, but offers a great chance for learning experiences and planning the students’ own future.

Is this legal?

Absolutely! JA-YE Finland has clarified all legal and taxing conventions with the Tax Administration (their official instructions). The Tax Administration has also given instructions for JA-YE Student companies’ operations (record number: 553/345/2006). In practice Student Companies’ profits are taxable income and as long as the net revenue of operations stays under 8500€, Student Companies are not liable to VAT. In taxation the operations are  considered parallel to independent profit-gathering operations.

Who do the Student Companies account to?

JA-YE Company programme and JA-YE Start Up programme are study program’s produced by JA-YE Finland (www.nuoriyrittajyys.fi), which are available in schools and learning institutions throughout Finland. The programme is part of the curriculum of a school/high school/vocational school or an institute of higher education. A teacher is responsible for the activities in practice. JA-YE Finland’s office offers help, support and training for teachers and, when needed, solves different challenges concerning the programmes implementation and conventions.

What’s the difference between JA-YE Company and JA-YE Start Up programmes?

JA-YE Company programme is meant for basic or second-degree pupils and students. The main goal of the programme of to attain an enterprising attitude, independet and active method of operations and skills needed in working life. A Student Company works as a learning instrument, providing motivation and a good practice platform for learning different skills.

JA-YE Start Up programme is an operations model aimed for higher education institutes. Its goals are enabling students to acquaint themselves to entrepreneurship and related operations and offering them a possibility to try their own business ideas in a protected environment. After the programme, students are better prepared for founding their own company or developing their ideas further.

How many Student Companies are there?

During the 2010-2011 term, about 900 Student Companies were founded and about 3200 students participated in the programmes. In practice, the operational time of the Student Companies (when they sell their products and services) is 3-4 months and the rest of the time is used to plan and prepare the operations. JA-YE Finland is part of an international Junior Achievement organization and on the organizational level about 250 000 students participate our programmes annually in over 100 countries.