The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), together with the North-West University (NWU), will present a workshop as part of Student Entrepreneur Week from 1 to 7 August 2017.

The week-long workshop, titled SEW2017, will be hosted across the NWU’s campuses and is part of the DHET’s Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education initiative. It aims to achieve greater university and TVET college involvement in promoting entrepreneurship to address the many economic challenges South Africa faces such as unemployment and poverty.

“Entrepreneurship is a career. Even if it is not a student’s first choice, it could be a lifesaver in the face of unemployment. Students need to start by developing a much-needed entrepreneurial literacy and mindset,” says Dr Norah Clarke, project manager for entrepreneurship development of the DHET’s directorate for university academic planning and management support.

She believes students need to acquire entrepreneurship skills to seize the benefits of becoming business owners, employers and the pillars of the future South African economy. His is here where higher education institutions can make valuable contributions in terms of support and launching their own initiatives.

Norah says although the DHET is aware of several remarkable entrepreneurship initiatives taking place at different universities across the country, they realise that they have only scratched the surface. “We would like to see examples of best practices shared publicly and for the benefit of our country’s students and universities.”

SEW2017 is all about creating a network of entrepreneurs, sharing expertise, showcasing current entrepreneurship projects and programmes and promoting projects and opportunities for students to be successful entrepreneurs in their fields.

For more information about SEW2017 and other entrepreneurial opportunities across the NWU’s campuses, please send an e-mail to entrepreneur@nwu.ac.za

• To share in the exciting events and workshop on social media, follow #SEW2017 and be inspired to become a successful entrepreneur.