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Talking Social Innovations

Talking Social Innovations

Dream, design and innovate: The pathway to a better living was the theme for the inaugural Talkfest which was held at the DUT City Campus on Friday last week (09 September 2016).

Talkfest, which aims to provide a platform for the DUT community and the public to deliberate on the concept of social innovation and entrepreneurship, formed part of this year’s annual DUT Digifest; a DUT Arts and Design Faculty Digital initiated festival. The staff and student showcase promotes the Faculty and the University as a learning institution of choice: relevant and responsive to needs and trends. The festival’s objectives are to showcase the creative work and artifacts of students and staffs, encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and advance social innovation. Each year, the Festival engages relevant local and global themes and trends.

Talkfest has been adopted by the Faculty as one of its research focus areas as the Faculty realises the need for the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship as beneficial to society.

In attendance was DUT staff and students as well as pupils from Durban High School as well as Nkosibomvu Secondary School, Tongaat, KZN North Coast.

Dave Pons, winner of the 2014 Durban Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Agriculture Lecturer at the Mangosuthu University of Technology, emphasised the importance of social innovation which, he said, translates to a better living for people. He encouraged the youth, especially in tertiary institutions, to invest in social innovation and to better not only their lives, but the lives of other people as well. “We need to start doing research now and also consider things that are going to be creative. Social innovation is about going out there and looking at the needs of the people around and close to you” he said. With various markets to look at, Pons also urged young innovators to choose which target markets suits them best; ranging from the mass markets, the rural area or the wealthy, to name a few.

Jayshree Naidoo, Head of the Standard Bank Incubator, spoke about the youth in business, also emphasising how social innovations need participation from non-profit organisations, the private sector and the public. “We all have problems to solve in our communities, and inspirations of new innovations are all around us, but the challenges most people face is funding. Standard Bank is one of the private sectors amongst many others that funds all social innovations, and encourages tertiary students and the youth at large to consider innovations,” she said.

– Phumeza Msongelwa

Pictured from left: Dr Rene Smith, DUT Arts and Design Faculty Executive Dean; Dave Pons, Entrepreneur; Jayshree Naidoo, Standard Bank Incubator HoD and Dr Rapeane Maleshoane Mathonsi, DUT Arts and Design Faculty Research Coordinator.

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