REGISTRATION
INFORMATION
World University Rankings - Top 600

THE FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES ARE HOSTING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK AT DUT

THE FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES ARE HOSTING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK AT DUT

An Entrepreneurship Week is being hosted by the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Faculty of Management Sciences at Cane Growers, ML Sultan Campus from 3 October 2022 to 7 October 2022.

One of the guest speakers on Day One was Mr Tevern Jaftha, CEO SA Start-Up Culture, who spoke on 4IR-Creating and Enabling Environment for Local Enterprises.

Mr Jaftha has 22 years of experience in Corporate Governance, Board Secretariate, Board Committees, Human Resource and Remuneration, Technical and Compliance at both the South African Accreditation Systems (SANAS) and Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV). He also has experience in different National Incubation and Accelerator Boards of Directors, supported by extensive experience at executive level in the private sector, like the South African Breweries (SAB), and public sector, the South African Quality Institute (SAQI), an entity of the Department of Trade Industries and Competition (DTIC), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), an agency of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD).

He focused his presentation on what 4IR meant, the domain conversation, start-up cultures and entrepreneurship enablement models.

He delved into the physical-digital-biomedical conversation, including the presidential commission’s recommendations which are to invest in human capital development, to create an artificial intelligence institute, secure and avail data to enable innovation, as well as to build 4IR infrastructure.

Jaftha explained further on how one drives the creation of an enabling digital ecosystem, gave insight into the ICT digital cluster model and the programmes that will underpin the hubs.

One such hub he made mention of was the Tshwane DHub which is an artificial intelligence lab. Jaftha then focused his talk on the start-up culture gaming lab, the SME eco-system of the future and entrepreneur villages.

The next speaker was DUT’s Fanie Nicholas Ndlovu, who gave his presentation on: Blue Modern Minimalist Artificial Intelligence Technology.

Ndlovu is a social entrepreneur, digital teacher and community builder who manages a community of more than 600 developers. Also, through his company VarsityGenie, he has trained more than 2000 diverse people, including women, high school learners, primary school learners with special needs, and the deaf university students.

He spoke on the culture which pertained to the story of Microsoft. He mentioned the growth mindset, focusing on DUT’s Someleze Diko, an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Applications Development alumnus, who joined Microsoft in London, United Kingdom, as a Cloud Advocate.

He explained that Ndlovu was exposed to different kinds of events that were hosted within the university, and through Ndlovu’s involvement with VarsityGenie, he was able to work alongside Enactus DUT and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, and Engagement (DVC: RIE) office on community engagement projects.

He further relayed more on his brainchild, VarsityGenie, explaining that he is fervent about developing the skills of young people in communities and townships, on skilling the nation.

Fanie relayed that Ndlovu now works closely with the high-tech giants, Google and Microsoft, that define technologies and influence design methodologies that almost everyone uses, giving him an edge to deliver a competitive advantage knowledge to the audience or participants that enable them to prosper in the digital space.

Giving his presentation was Abdul Malik Tejan-sie, CEO and Founder of the Africa School of Technology in Durban. He has built the first Humanoid robot in South Africa.

His topic of discussion was on creating an enabling environment. He explained what an enabling environment is and the definition of smart cities, saying that the main goal of a smart city is to optimise city functions and promote economic growth while also improving the quality of life for citizens by using smart technologies and data analysis.

He relayed that the value lies in how this technology is used rather than simply how much technology is available.

“A city’s smartness is determined using a set of characteristics, including an infrastructure based around technology, environmental initiatives, effective and highly functional public transportation, confident and progressive city plans, as well as people are able to live and work within the city, using its resources.

He then went on to explain the characteristics of smart cities, naming the top 10 smart cities.

Tejan-sie spoke on the South African challenges which includes risk management systems, poverty, high data costs and access to electricity and clean, drinking water, to name but a few.

“We as the general public are not able to solve all these issues, but what we can do is pick a problem and work towards mitigating it. We have chosen the educational sector as this can mitigate far more challenges through fostering innovative and forward-thinking through impactful education in more individuals,” he added.

With regards to solving the South African challenges, Tejan-sie relayed that there is a need to look at the implications of the 4IR for education; a new digital approach to teaching and learning, and skills development.

Day Two focused on a masterclass with the topic of discussion pertaining to pitch perfect ideas.

Today, Day Three, the discussions: entails on entrepreneurial mindsets-going from idea to launch.

On Day Four, presentations will be held around the topic of: Integration of entrepreneurship into teaching and learning and on Day, there will be student entrepreneurship presentations and prize-giving.

Pictured: Day One guest speakers are Mr Tevern Jaftha, CEO SA Start-Up Culture, DUT’s Fanie Nicholas Ndlovu and Abdul Malik Tejan-sie, CEO and Founder of the Africa School of Technology.

Waheeda Peters

No comments