Young Lean Leader is a 9-month educational program for young people aged 13-19 from any school or organization working with students. Our program develops universal Lean Thinking competencies sought after by top employers.

The program was prepared in collaboration with teachers, didacticians, educators and psychologists and is tailored to the rhythm of school work.

The program is implemented across Poland and is FREE to participants.

The program is organized by the LEAN EDUCATION Foundation. However, our program would not be possible without organizations and companies that support the implementation of our ideas.

The program brings together school, college and business communities to prepare young people for the competency challenges of the 21st century.

It is run by Lean Management practitioners and volunteers associated with our Foundation. There are more than 50 of us all over Poland! You can get to know our team by looking at the tab our team.

Our activities are also supported by companies from all over the country, hosting our participants during Stage 3 projects, as well as preparing materials used by our Coordinators, Trainers and the Program Participants themselves.

A teacher joining the program receives access to electronic materials available on the classroom platform.

The program of lessons is developed in a constantly improved form: lesson contents, presentations for lessons, non-computer sets, educational simulation games, etc. All materials are available in an electronic version.​

Read a part of the program.

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We also created a Young Lean Leader's Guide with substantive content related to the program.

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Each school is assigned a regional coordinator to provide support to the teacher.

An important element of the Program is a series of training courses for teachers. We provide teachers with tools to activate their lessons, and students with challenges that become the basis for acquiring knowledge and skills, as well as for creating team attitudes.

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• Teachers are required to attend 3 one-day trainings throughout the school year in accordance with the program calendar

• Optional trainings according to the offer prepared by Lean Education trainers

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Other opportunities for teachers

We combine our program with the activities of other organizations, giving group facilitators the opportunity to plan a path for their students beyond just one school year.

The Inspiring Examples Foundation, which teaches students at corporate sites, is also open to working with the mentors of our groups.

We've compiled a list of questions and answers that come from your side.

Click on the picture and a lot will be explained!

If you can't find the answer to your question despite being familiar with the program, write to us and together we'll build a list of questions and answers!

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER

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In this phase, students build their identities, values, and attitudes by working through a non-computer-based simulation game called "Lean thinking." During the game they learn to work as a team to achieve a common goal. They work according to 10 principles of continuous improvement. They learn the principles of working in a process, using the results of the process to take improvement actions, and they learn to share work and talk about problems.

The results of their work are sent to the organizers for evaluation by a jury of practitioners, educators and university lecturers. The best groups are given the opportunity to take part in a tournament for the title of "Young Lean Leader".

JANUARY - MARCH

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This stage is a set of activities related to building the knowledge of young Lean thinkers. Teachers, based on lesson plans and supporting materials, provide students with challenging tasks.

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The students' tasks are divided into 2 groups:

1. Tasks related to the acquisition of problem definition skills and process approach in problem analysis.

2. Tasks related to acquiring knowledge of applying basic lean techniques to solve problems.

The students' task is to independently acquire knowledge in a given topic, develop one-point lessons, share the knowledge with their peers, and finally play the Lean Taboo game, which provides a fun way to replay and verify the knowledge acquired by the team.

In this stage, students are also given an additional task that is related to their public performance during the semifinals. This task is different in each edition.

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Students participating in the tournament meet at semifinals held at universities, where jurors verify their knowledge and attitudes developed in stage 1.

APRIL - JUNE

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Stage 3 is aimed at transferring the newly gained knowledge to a practical work environment at a company.

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Skill development occurs through:

• solving a problem defined by the business,

• development of a simulation game reflecting the selected process occurring in the enterprise and the mechanisms of its improvement.

During Phase 3, students have the opportunity to complete three three-hour company visits every two weeks. At the same time, we provide unlimited access to remote support from the coordinator and mentors.

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Between visits, students work on solutions in class and, after the visits, prepare for a final presentation, according to criteria established and communicated at the beginning of Stage 2. Presentations take the form of Power Point, cabarets, plays, etc. All forms of expression are allowed.

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Students participating in the tournament for the title of "Young Lean Leader" come to the University of Gdansk to present the results of their work.

Over 100 teachers from all over Poland have already taken part in our program. They all emphasize the high level of content in the program and praise its format.

​Interviews with teachers can be found in two places:

1. On our YouTube channel - teachers about the program playlist

2. In the form of a transcript of short interviews

Our program is not just about learning. Above all, we want students to enjoy the activities they participate in, and to have the freedom to create, experience, and learn from their failures and successes. Their smiles and reflections are most important to us!

Student statements about the program can be found on our YouTube channel - students about the program playlist.