The Centre for Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CSERI) in partnership with the Department of Marketing and Retail at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently hosted a vibrant and memorable Design Thinking and Project-Based Learning Programme Awards ceremony at the Durban Botanic Gardens. The event brought together second-year Marketing students, DUT lecturers, and industry partners who are entrepreneurs to celebrate the culmination of a semester-long project that combined academic learning with real business practice.
Programme Director, Ms Snelisiwe Hlongwane from CSERI opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and expressing pride in the collaboration between the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator and the Department of Marketing and Retail. She reflected on how the initiative allowed students to practice in real business environments everything they had been taught in class. Hlongwane shared several moments of admiration for the students, recounting how they confidently represented a business at a marketing workshop when the owner could not attend. Their professionalism and quick-thinking impressed everyone in the room, confirming the power of merging classroom learning with hands-on industry experience. She thanked all stakeholders, noting that the day was a celebration of ideas, growth, and the resilience of both students and entrepreneurs.
CSERI Director, Mr Solomon Nyamurima followed with a heartfelt message of support. He expressed how humbled he was to witness the growth of both SMEs and students through the project. He acknowledged the SMEs as key contributors to economic change and praised the lecturers for their dedication to nurturing future leaders. Nyamurima admitted that the journey came with challenges for both students and entrepreneurs, but he emphasised that these moments were lessons rather than failures. He highlighted that some SMEs even experienced growth because of the strategies developed by the students.
Speaking to the room, he reminded students that they were the heart of DUT, adding: “Whether you are number one or number twenty, you have all won, because the experience you gained is beyond measure.” Nyamurima encouraged everyone to maintain the momentum and professionalism they developed throughout the programme.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Department of Marketing and Retail, Dr Dt Noel thanked the CSERI and industry partners for supporting a project that strengthened student learning. He linked the initiative to DUT’s ENVISION2030 values, explaining that creativity and innovation were evident in the quality of work produced. Dr Noel said that the department aimed to produce adaptive graduates who embody professionalism, ethics, and integrity, reminding students of a lesson he often emphasises in class.
“We aim to develop a complete quality package, not just a student with a certificate,” said Dr Noel. He explained that the project enhanced academic development, improved students’ problem-solving abilities, and exposed them to real industry expectations.
The judging process was conducted by a distinguished panel consisting of tax expert and funding specialist, Mr Thobani Banda from Durban Textile Leather Incubator, DUT lecturer Dr Sandile Mkhize, and design thinking expert, Ms. Brightness Nyawose from the CSERI.
A total of twenty groups showcased their marketing solutions developed for various SMEs, each group being allocated five minutes to present. After presentations, Nyawose announced the top five winning groups. Maristban Tutoring and Matric Upgrade secured first place, followed by Afya Foods in second place, Zotha Loans in third, Anela Properties in fourth, and Optomly in fifth. Nyawose commended all students for their outstanding creativity and impressive delivery, highlighting that they made the judging process extremely challenging due to the high standard of work.
All students who participated in the programme were proudly presented with certificates of participation, acknowledging their hard work, commitment, and the significant time they invested throughout the project. This gesture celebrated every student’s contribution and recognised their role in making the initiative a success.
Entrepreneur, Amahle Zuma from JS Zuma Trading, operating as Power Cleaning Services, shared her gratitude on behalf of her company. She described the experience as enriching and inspiring, praising the students for their fresh insights and dedication in developing marketing solutions tailored to real business needs. Zuma emphasised that the partnership between education and industry created meaningful community impact and opened opportunities for continued innovation.
The award ceremony concluded with heartfelt remarks from Marketing Lecturer Dr Faith Chibvura, who reflected on the semester-long journey with immense pride. She explained that the project served as an integrated assessment for three core modules, requiring students to attend workshops, engage with entrepreneurs, conduct site visits often using their own resources and compile comprehensive portfolios documenting the work they produced for the SMEs.
Dr Chibvura described the project as a journey shaped by unity, passion, and shared purpose. She thanked the CSERI, her colleagues, the entrepreneurs, and especially the students, expressing hope that this initiative would mark the beginning of many more years of collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
Pictured: Second year Marketing students received their awards for obtaining first place at the Design Thinking Awards event.
Sinamile Sithole
