In an ambitious effort to reimagine how entrepreneurship education is delivered in resource-constrained environments, the bhive Enterprise Development Centre (bhive EDC) at the North-West University (NWU), in partnership with Leuphana University in Germany and the Kitso Information Development Centre, has embarked on a groundbreaking pilot project to test the effectiveness of podcast-based learning.
The project, launched in February 2025, is being conducted in the township of Sharpeville and targets a cohort of 112 unemployed adults.
The initiative is part of the globally recognised Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) programme, an evidence-based entrepreneurship training model that has been implemented in over 20 countries. What sets this pilot apart is its bold experiment with format: it evaluates whether storytelling podcasts can successfully replace traditional classroom-based instruction in delivering core entrepreneurial concepts and fostering action.
Participants in the study are divided into two equal groups. One group attends weekly three-hour in-person STEP training sessions facilitated by a certified trainer. The other group engages with 30-minute podcasts, specially developed to translate the training content into compelling, accessible audio experiences. These podcasts integrate narrative storytelling, reflective prompts and structured exercises that participants are encouraged to apply in real-life entrepreneurial contexts between sessions.
Both training modes follow the same 12-week structure, covering key themes such as opportunity recognition, resource mobilisation, risk-taking and the development of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. By condensing rich educational content into an audio format, the project aims to reduce the cost and logistical barriers often associated with in-person training programmes.
“This project is about more than knowledge transfer – it is about understanding how people learn in different contexts,” explains Dr Leonie Greyling, senior manager for enterprise development at the NWU. “We are evaluating whether storytelling through podcasts can spark the same entrepreneurial action and mindset shifts as traditional classroom training – and perhaps even go further by meeting people where they are.”
She adds that podcast-based learning offers a powerful opportunity to reach individuals in underserved areas who are often excluded from traditional education. “For many, travel and access to infrastructure are daily barriers. With this pilot, we are seeing how audio learning can overcome these hurdles and create a more inclusive path to entrepreneurship.”
The pilot uses a robust mixed-methods research approach, collecting data through surveys, interviews and observational tools at multiple stages of the project before, during and after the training sessions. The research team is monitoring several key indicators: changes in entrepreneurial attitudes, business ideation, confidence in self-employment and actual engagement in entrepreneurial activities.
Dr Greyling says this project also marks a deepening of the NWU’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship and innovation in teaching and learning.
“This initiative is a testament to what can happen when universities, communities and international partners co-create solutions. It reflects the NWU’s ongoing commitment to transforming academic research into practical, empowering outcomes for people who need it the most.”
Preliminary results from the project are expected in June 2025 and will inform future iterations of the STEP programme both in South Africa and internationally.
