Entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly paramount in national and international policy for long-term economic development and for solving basic socio-economic issues. Small and medium-sized businesses are the largest employers in both developed and developing countries. Countries around the world have been investing massive monetary resources in skills-based training, particularly in the higher education sector, to strengthen citizens' productive capacities.
It is under this notion that Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation says it is important for universities to recognize the importance of entrepreneurial behaviour in the development of a country. “Tertiary institutions are now encouraging business and non-business students to learn essential abilities that employers demand from job candidates,” she says.
Dr Anshu Padayachee, CEO of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) who has been involved in these discussions, believes that the bespoke programme with Tampere University will have high impact on training of our student entrepreneurs and will certainly impact on job creation, reduction in the soaring unemployment rates and poverty reduction.
Last year, the University launched its Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) under the Faculty of Management Sciences which creates programmes and develops entrepreneurial capacity by providing training on business management and entrepreneurship through a blended lean start-up pedagogy.
In conclusion, Dr Papu-Zamxaka said that the interaction between TUT and Tampere University of Applied Sciences was fruitful and collaborative agreements will be finalised. “We are looking at resource sharing between the two universities on the academic front and promotion of entrepreneurship and start-ups amongst students/youths,” she said.