As part of the 6th iteration of the annual national Student Entrepreneurship Week (SEW2022), innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation invited over 400 student entrepreneurs and various external strategic stakeholders to participate in a hybrid Student Entrepreneurship Week event that took place at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Riverside Campus in Pietermaritzburg and on Microsoft Teams, from the 24th to the 26th of August 2022.
The SEW programme was aimed at raising awareness of entrepreneurship as an alternative to formal employment, and to introduce students to available channels of business incubation within the university. As an outcome of the SEW, students will be encouraged to turn their academic qualifications and skills into sustainable businesses.
The programme, hosted by DUT Community Engagement Practitioner, Ms Phumzile Xulu, was officially opened by the Midlands Campus Director Dr Joseph Molete who welcomed all participants to the programme and commended them for taking the time to participate in this informative packed event. Amongst the attendees were the former DUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Engagement (DVC: RIE), Professor Sibusiso Moyo, DUT Technology, Transfer & Innovation Director and innobiz CEO, Professor Keolebogile Motaung, DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, Edinvest Holdings (pty) LTD CEO, Mr Nhlanhla Khambule and many more.
In her address on the university approach to entrepreneurship, Professor Moyo, spoke of the opportunities the university has for students with an interest on entrepreneurship. She highlighted the urgency for the university to prioritise and encourage businesses that address socio economic issues and contribute to the sustainable development goals. Prof Moyo further encouraged students to take advantage of the gift of time and use it to change the world for the better through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“The biggest gift you have is time, what is important is how you use that time and the impact it has on your future and the lives of others,” said Prof Moyo.
She further quoted the legendary Martin Luther king who said, “Time is always right to do what is right.”
innobiz CEO, Professor Motaung delivered an overview of innobiz, that included the organisation’s background, the service offering, an outline of the incubation programme, the innovative facilities and the opportunities provided by the department. Additionally, Prof Motaung emphasized the alignment of the innobiz DUT with the university strategy map ENVISION2030 in its stride to inspire and teach entrepreneurship and innovation.
Keynote Speaker, Ms. Pearl Maphumulo who is the Business Development Agency (pty) LTD Managing Director shared an inspiring speech to student entrepreneurs, where she highlighted 3 focal points for entrepreneurs to adopt in their entrepreneurial journey. First was the need to be able to adapt, second was patience to listen to what people want and lastly to gain confidence to present their ideas to the market. Her speech was followed by three panel discussions of various entrepreneurial topics, the first being the outline of the SEW theme under the topic ‘what does move to market mean?’ Moderated by innobiz CSE Director, Dr Poppet Pilllay, followed by ‘Building a sustainable business’ moderated by Cayman LB Consulting managing member: Ms. Lumka Sibanyoni; and lastly ‘Creating an entrepreneurial enabling environment by students’ facilitated by innobiz DUT manager Ms. Nontokozo Ngcobo.
Day 2 of the programme was dedicated to appreciating entrepreneurs in various business programmes within the innobiz DUT; over 250 certificates were awarded between the Women in Agri Programme, the Business Start-up Programme, the Sprouting Entrepreneurs Programme and Crop and Poultry Production Programme. The second session of day 2 was a fully packed exhibition by over 20 innobiz entrepreneurs and external stakeholder, who came to showcase their products and services.
The last day of the 3-day programme was a formal gala dinner where students in the post-incubation programme graduated, fifteen (15) Business Excellence Awards were handed over to well deserving entrepreneurs. Moreover; certificates of recognition were handed out to Departmental Entrepreneurship Coordinators (10) who have been supporting innobiz DUT from the early stages.
Pictured: DUT TTI Director and innobiz CEO, Professor Keolebogile Motaung addressing the students during SEW.
Pictured: Guests at the SEW Gala Dinner.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Nontethelelo Mzizi
