SMU’s Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Community of Practice (EDHE) – a glimmer of hope

by Kegorapetse | Aug 4, 2021 | All News, Dintshang

The days of some students completing their degrees, only to be faced with the reality of unemployment and the frustrations that come with it, are surely numbered. Thanks to SMU’s Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Community of Practice (EDHE) graduate students finding it hard to get jobs, will be equipped with entrepreneurial skills in order to unleash their creativity to create jobs for themselves and for others.

This ground breaking initiative was recently launched by Prof Eunice Seekoe, deputy chairperson of the National Community of Practice for Entrepreneurial Universities, at the Fire and Ice Hotel, in Pretoria.

In her opening remarks, Prof Seekoe, said “Today marks the beginning of our journey to formalise the Community of Practice (COP) at SMU. The first 120 students of the SMU will be trained as entrepreneurs from tomorrow.”

“The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Universities South Africa (USAf), with the support of the British Council, made a call to all the universities to position themselves in the global commercialisation of higher education institutions,”.

“Since 2016, the EDHE developed a model to guide universities, in South Africa to respond to a call for transformation to become entrepreneurial. Universities are guided to create an entrepre-neurial ecosystem through establishing communities of Practice. In order to achieve this goal, universities are expected to ensure closer engagement with industry, business, and communities to form a helix model of partnerships. And SMU identified the need to respond to this call”, shed emphasized

Having set the stage, an impressive array of speakers, who are leading lights in their various fields, took to the stage, to speak, at Fire and Ice Hotel, and others joined virtually, via Microsoft teams. The most notable speakers who also spoke were Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, SMU’s own alumna, in her own right but also the Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Ramokgopa spoke on the topic ‘National Health Insurance (NHI): Implications and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the health sector.

Ms Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Gauteng Province addressed the Role of Gauteng Finance and e-government in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth development in Gauteng: opportunities and implications of the 4IR”.

Representing the EDHE at Universities South Africa (USAf) was Dr Nora Clarke, who delivered a virtual talk and spoke about the policy framework and objects of entrepreneurship in higher education.

Mr Saki Zamxaka, from the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, spoke on the range, scope and criteria for financial and non-financial support programmes and packages.

Dr Irene Mohasoa, SMU’s Director of Student Affairs, addressed Entrepreneurship: Enabler for promoting sustainable development amongst university students.

Ms Gugulethu Dhlamini, SMU EDHE Student representative, spoke about the Past lessons and future expectations in entrepreneurship programme for the student community. She said student expectation is to be empowered with skills that spark entrepreneurial spirit which will enable them to develop problem solving skills to address socioeconomic challenges. She added that experience shows that most successful societies in the world are those that have high rate of entrepreneurship amongst its populations.

Mr Thato Masekoa, SMU SRC President spoke about the role of the SRC spear heading entrepreneurship development. He also pointed out the need to reinforce health sciences skills acquired by students with money management skills, to enable them to be well rounded health professionals.

Mr Kgatso Kobo, NYDA, on the topic, range scope, and criteria for financial and non-financial support programmes and packages by NYDA. He spoke about the need to empower students to see far ahead and be able to see the bigger picture and not be fixated on small petty and small stuff. He called upon the students to conduct their own proper market research, pricing and knowing their competitors. He said NYDA offer funding. But repayment on funding may not be repaid, but NYDA can offset it if and when the beneficiary makes success of the businesses and hires young people.