The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Programme presents the third annual national EDHE Lekgotla – a four – day gathering of hundreds of leaders in entrepreneurship at universities and TVET colleges.
This flagship event is scheduled to take place from 25 to 28 June 2019 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). This year’s Lekgotla takes place within the unifying theme of entrepreneurship through the arts and will be curated by Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design, with the support of the South African Humanities Deans’ Association (SAHUDA).
The EDHE Lekgotla 2019 is hosted by the Department Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Universities South Africa (USAf), and is co – hosted by the Durban University of Technology (DUT). For the second year, the British Council is also partnering with EDHE in the Lekgotla, while the University of KwaZulu – Natal and Seda are supporting the event. The EDHE Lekgotla is held in a different city and province every year, with previous successful events having taken place in Johannesburg and Cape Town, in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The purpose of the EDHE Lekgotla 2019 is to share best practice, learn of latest trends and developments, and foster collaboration with regards to entrepreneurship in Higher Education – all to the benefit of the South African universities, students and economy. Stakeholders in the EDHE ecosystem are gathering to share their learning and experience, while working on identifying and addressing challenges in the space of entrepreneurship development.
The Lekgotla presents student exhibits of institutional best practice and stakeholder visual presentations in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial ideas.
The four – day programme of the EDHE Lekgotla 2019 aims to be relevant and highly interactive, while allowing for a diversity of perspectives and voices within the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. The keynote address on the opening day will be delivered by GG Alcock, author of, amongst others, the highly relevant book “Kasinomic Revolution”. Other dignitaries include the CEO of USAf, Prof Ahmed Bawa; the Vice – Chancellor of Durban University of Technology, Prof Thandwa Mthembu; and the Deputy – Director General of the University Education Branch of DHET, Dr Diane Parker. Events will be framed by performances of Ensemble Ikusasa Lethu, a UKZN AMD ensemble directed by Dr Patricia Opondo; the praise singer, Jessica Mbangeni, and a DUT drama ensemble directed by Prof Deborah Lutge.
The opening day of the event will highlight international and local best practices and developments to follow and it will be wrapped up with a speed – networking cocktail event. The Acting Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Fawzia Peer, will open the second day of the Lekgotla, followed by leaders in contextually – relevant South African entrepreneurship putting the spotlight on applying and adapting for entrepreneurship, from global to local.
The third day of the event is aimed at facilitating and supporting the work of dedicated communities of practice in the form of six tracks relevant to Student Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship in Academia, Entrepreneurial Universities, Studentpreneur Leadership Forum, Entrepreneurship in TVET colleges and Entrepreneurship through the arts. This day of active engagement will be wrapped up in true African style, fireside chats for the voices from the trenches of entrepreneurship in South Africa, this is in true African tradition, storytelling from bonfire to bonfire.
The EDHE Lekgotla 2019 ends with an action-packed Durban Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Bus Tour. Simultaneously, a dedicated one-day Studentpreneurs Indaba will take place, providing a learning platform and voice for pre – registered student entrepreneurs from universities and TVET colleges across the country. The keynote address at the Studentpreneurs Indaba will be delivered by Mr Karabo Che Mokoape, author of “The 7 things every young black entrepreneur should know”.
All leaders, studentpreneurs and stakeholders in entrepreneurship development at Universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges would benefit from attending the EDHE Lekgotla 2019.
Additional information is available on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @EDHE Student Entrepreneurship, as well as on https://edhe.co.za/edhe-lekgotla-2019/.
Pictured: EDHE Lekgotla 2019 is taking place at the Durban ICC from 25 to 28 June 2019.
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