By: Mafumane Tlhapi and Sthembiso Seyama
For students and graduates facing a changing job market, creating a business could offer another route into the world of work. This was the message at an entrepreneurship seminar hosted at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus.
NWU Career Services, in collaboration with the NWU Convocation, hosted the Entrepreneurship Awareness and Education Seminar on 21 August 2026 at Harmony Heights Rec Hall. The seminar introduced students and alumni to entrepreneurship as an alternative career path and connected them with organisations that support emerging entrepreneurs.
Career coach specialist Tshegofatso Bogatsu said the seminar aimed to change how students and graduates think about their career options.
“The objective of the event is to promote and create awareness of entrepreneurship as an alternative to employment,” she said.
She added that the seminars target current students and alumni and aim to educate, inspire and empower them to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.
The seminar also highlighted business development, financial support and other resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs. Tshegofatso said students with viable business ideas should not feel that obtaining a degree limits them to seeking traditional employment.
Entrepreneurship could allow graduates to create opportunities for themselves while developing workplace skills. It could also enable them to contribute to the economy of South Africa and create opportunities for others.
However, starting a business comes with challenges. Tshegofatso identified limited awareness of business support programmes and funding opportunities as barriers faced by aspiring entrepreneurs. Fear of failure can also affect confidence, while entrepreneurs need to understand the needs of their communities to identify possible business opportunities.
The seminar sought to address these gaps by connecting student entrepreneurs, or “studentpreneurs”, and entrepreneurial alumni with the broader entrepreneurship support network.
This includes the NWU bhive Enterprise Development Centre, the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute, the National Youth Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency.
Tshegofatso said Career Services and the NWU Convocation could support aspiring entrepreneurs by raising awareness and making external support systems more accessible to students and graduates.
Her message to students was to make use of the resources available to them.
“Leverage every piece of information, resource and support system at your disposal,” she said. “Although entrepreneurship is not a journey without challenges, it is a journey worth pursuing if you have a good support system, understand your capabilities and have a strong awareness of the environment in which you want to operate.”
The seminar formed part of efforts to help students look beyond conventional employment and consider entrepreneurship when planning their careers.
Students and alumni attended the Entrepreneurship Awareness and Education Seminar at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus.
