The Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Midlands hosted a meet and greet and Design Thinking Workshop with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (DVC: RIE) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Professor Sibusiso Moyo and DUT’s Technology, Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Director, Professor Keolebogile Motaung.
The workshop was recently held at the DUT Indumiso Campus’ Innovation Hub and was aimed at strategically engaging with Faculty Heads of Departments and recently appointed entrepreneurship coordinators. In attendance were the workshop were DUT Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete; Applied Management Sciences Head of Department (HOD), Professor Bongani Dlamini; and entrepreneurship coordinators from various academic faculties within the university including the DUT School of Education, DUT Housing, DUT Nursing Department and the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT).
Innobiz Midlands Centre Manager and Interim Innobiz Director, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo opened the workshop, expressing her gratitude to all attendees for taking the time to participate in this informative programme. She encouraged the collaboration between the Centre and academic departments to ensure that students not only receive theoretical education but also entrepreneurial knowledge.
“As the Centre grows, it requires that we start working together with faculties to share information and knowledge. We are trying to change the strategy and involve the academic structure to assist us in introducing entrepreneurship in the curriculum,” said Ngcobo.
Concurring with Ngcobo, the Head of Entrepreneurship coordinators, Ms Nompumelelo Mthabela shared that the broader aim of such programmes and workshops is to form partnerships with the academic staff in capacitating students with entrepreneurial knowledge.
“Through these programmes we are hoping to work together with the academic staff in infusing entrepreneurship into our academic activities and curriculum,” added Mthabela.
DVC: RIE Professor Moyo delivered a brief speech during the workshop and shared her words of gratitude and encouragement; emphasizing that such programmes are crucial in the development of innovative and adaptive graduates.
“We want our students to be creative and entrepreneurial to avoid struggles post university,” said Prof Moyo.
When facilitating the workshop, Professor Motaung stressed the importance of finding innovative and creative ways to make education easy and exciting for students, highlighting that teaching and learning must be altered to suit the current generation of students through the use of digital platforms and smart technology that is modern and convenient.
Dr Molete commended the Innobiz DUT team on their efforts and contribution towards the university’s strategic goals to produce adaptive graduates.
“We know we have challenges with our students, and we are counting on the good work that this Centre is doing to provide our students with quality and innovative education. Our country is in a deep crisis, such solutions are important, and we want to support the department as best as we can through making plans to incorporate entrepreneurship in our curriculum,” said Dr Molete.
Pictured: DVC:RIE, Professor Sibusiso Moyo.
Nontethelelo Mzizi
