The Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, in the Faculty of Management Sciences hosted a Praxis Entrepreneurship 2023 exhibition, with a slogan entitled: “embracing 1000 ways to conduct business” which took place at the Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre on Wednesday, 11 October 2023.
The Praxis Entrepreneurship 2023 exhibition was a platform where students became the architects of their own success. It was an extraordinary exhibition showcasing student-generated prototypes of genuine products and services. The exhibition was hosted to experience a day of entrepreneurial education, networking, and promotional prospects, bringing together stakeholders, entrepreneurs, local schools, and consumers.
This dynamic exhibition was not just about making sales; it was a transformative experience that aimed to grant tomorrow’s trailblazers a thrilling platform to walk in the shoes of an entrepreneur for a day.
The theme for the exhibition was Innovative Entrepreneurship, Hustler Entrepreneurship, Empowering Entrepreneurship, Digital Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship.
Mr Mthokozisi Luthuli, who is a founder, leader and Lecturer at the Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, said as a department they were teaching their students how to run businesses and other important dynamics about the business sector. However, he noticed that there was a small opportunity for them to bring these ideas to life when he got to the department in July 2022.
“The Praxis Entrepreneurship 2023 exhibition was further about giving students an opportunity to see how well their ideas can materialise, including to ascertain the viability of these ideas. Hence, there were different brands that showcased and sold varying products and services. We were, therefore, encouraging our students to be employment creators rather than job seekers because we are facing a high unemployment rate in our country,” said Mr Luthuli.
He said that if students completed their studies and waited for employment, then it would mean that as individuals they will not make ends meet to survive. “This was an interesting way of saying to these emerging market economies, as a department, this is a platform where the ideas that groups have come up with can be known by the attendees of the day, and get to live through these ideas as students sustaining their lives after DUT,” he stressed.
Mr Luthuli also indicated that it was gratifying to witness the enthusiastic students who are aspiring entrepreneurs, as they rolled out their brands for the first time for which the DUT community came in full support as they unceasingly purchased student’s originally crafted products and services that were available on the day.
“This is a big day for us as students because we get to demonstrate our talents that we can use to help ourselves after we have completed our studies. As most of us know that the unemployment rate is high in South Africa, we, as the youth, must be able to use what we have learnt during our studies to start our own businesses and create job opportunities for other people,” said Zinhle Mvelase, a Business Administration student who was exhibiting her business with her team members.
The name of the business name was Heritage Joy. They sold traditional food such as steamed bread and tripe meat, they also had jumping castle for their customers to enjoy themselves.
Pictured: Attendees at the Praxis Entrepreneurship 2023 exhibition.
Sibahle Ngcobo
