The North-West University (NWU) continues to strengthen its commitment to entrepreneurship development and women's economic empowerment through its participation in the international TransformHER initiative. This is a collaborative project that equips young women with the confidence, entrepreneurial capabilities and networks needed to shape their entrepreneurial futures.
The TransformHER project is jointly led by Prof. Nadia Gulko from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom (UK) and Prof. Sanlie Middelberg from the NWU, bringing together expertise from partner universities in the UK and South Africa to strengthen women's entrepreneurship through international collaboration.
As a consortium partner in the British Council-funded TransformHER project, the NWU recently participated in the three-day Women's Entrepreneurship Development Living Lab.
The Living Lab formed part of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) and brought together SWEEP student executives, university coordinators, entrepreneurship experts, professional trainers, artists, designers, industry partners, community organisations and policymakers.
The event created a dynamic innovation environment in which participants worked together to co-design resources, strengthen entrepreneurship development initiatives and generate practical insights to support women entrepreneurs.
Rather than relying on traditional presentations, the Living Lab used creative approaches such as visual storytelling, journey mapping and textile-based reflection workshops to explore the lived experiences of students and identify the barriers and opportunities that shape their entrepreneurial journeys.
The collaborative process resulted in several important outputs, including training and upskilling sessions for SWEEP committee members and coordinators, visual and textile-based artefacts reflecting participants' experiences of participants, documented journey maps, collaborative design outputs, videos and a consolidated insights report that will inform the future direction of entrepreneurship development in higher education. Participants also received certificates in recognition of their contribution to the programme.
The NWU team comprised Prof. Middelberg, Prof. Louise Bezuidenhout and Dr Leonie Greyling. Together, they worked closely with Prof. Gulko in the design and facilitation of the TransformHER Living Lab.
Prof. Middelberg said the Living Lab highlighted the importance of listening to students and creating entrepreneurship programmes that respond to their realities.
“The Living Lab created a safe and inspiring space in which students could openly share their entrepreneurial journeys, learn from one another and contribute to shaping programmes that truly respond to the realities young women face. TransformHER is about more than entrepreneurship – it is about empowering women to recognise their potential, develop confidence and become agents of change in their communities,” said Prof. Middelberg.
Dr Greyling, senior manager for enterprise development at the NWU, said the initiative demonstrates the value of partnerships in preparing women for entrepreneurial success.
“TransformHER demonstrates the power of collaboration in developing the next generation of women entrepreneurs. Through initiatives such as the Living Lab, our students are exposed to new ways of thinking, practical entrepreneurial skills and valuable international networks that will continue to support them long after the programme concludes. As the NWU, we are proud to be part of a consortium that is investing in women who will become innovators, business leaders and job creators in South Africa and beyond.”
Among the NWU delegates was Danielle Paulsen, deputy chairperson of the NWU SWEEP student committee, who described the experience as inspiring, empowering and transformative.
“The Living Lab challenged us to think differently about entrepreneurship and our own leadership potential. Listening to the stories of other young women and working together to develop solutions reminded me that entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business – it is about creating opportunities, solving problems and making a meaningful impact. I left feeling inspired, empowered and motivated to contribute even more to supporting women entrepreneurs.”
Danielle added that the experience allowed participants to build lasting relationships with students and facilitators from different institutions while gaining practical knowledge that will strengthen the work of the SWEEP programme at the NWU.
“The workshops encouraged us to reflect on our personal journeys, embrace creativity and recognise that every challenge can become an opportunity for innovation. Being surrounded by women who are passionate about creating change gave me confidence that we all have the ability to make a meaningful contribution to our communities.”
Through initiatives such as the TransformHER Living Lab, the NWU continues to demonstrate its commitment to producing entrepreneurial students and graduates who are equipped not only to establish successful businesses, but also to create employment opportunities, solve societal challenges and contribute to inclusive economic growth in South Africa and beyond.
More about TransformHER
TransformHER is funded by the British Council and delivered through an international consortium comprising the University of Lincoln, Manchester Metropolitan University, Ulster University, the NWU, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Limpopo.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme, Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education and Universities South Africa.
The initiative seeks to empower the next generation of South African women entrepreneurs by exposing students to inspiring role models, meaningful mentorship opportunities and collaborative networks that foster innovation, confidence and leadership. By connecting higher-education institutions with industry, communities and policymakers, TransformHER ensures that entrepreneurship development is informed by the lived experiences of students and responds to the evolving needs of women entrepreneurs.
