Welcome!

On behalf of the Department: Higher Education and Training (DHET), Universities South Africa (USAf), and our hosting partner, the University of Western Cape, the EDHE team is pleased to welcome you to the 5th EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba and the 7th national EDHE Lekgotla 2023, an annual gathering of entrepreneurship leaders, faculty, support professionals, practitioners and student entrepreneurs.

Background

Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) is the national platform for the advancement and support of entrepreneurship in universities. EDHE is a programme of the Department Higher Education & Training (DHET) and Universities South Africa (USAf), the representative organisation of the 26 South African public universities.

The three goals of EDHE are:

• Equip every student and graduate for economic participation through entrepreneurial activity, with an emphasis on student women;

• Support academics across disciplines to develop entrepreneurship through teaching, learning and research; and

• Support universities as entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems, which includes relevant policy development.

Purpose of the Event

The Studentpreneurs Indaba, 4-5 September 2023

The Studentpreneurs Indaba is a one-of-a-kind event aimed at empowering and supporting young existing student entrepreneurs. The mission is to share knowledge, open doors to exciting opportunities, build invaluable networks, and develop the leaders of tomorrow. This year's theme focusing on Social Innovation for Societal Impact (#innovation4impact). The Studentpreneurs Indaba on 4 and 5 September 2023, will focus on the development of leadership competencies, resilience and grit required for navigating the fast-changing world of entrepreneurship and the world of work. During the HELM Student Leadership Workshop we will advance student entrepreneur's understanding of the drivers of entrepreneurship, coaching around their vision for entrepreneurial practice and thinking, and focus on experiential hands-on cases that illustrate the successful and sustainable approach to entrepreneurship.

The EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba 2023 is hosted in collaboration with the national EDHE Studentpreneurs Community of Practice (CoP) and in partnership with the Higher Education Leadership and Management Programme (HELM).

The EDHE Lekgotla, 6-8 September 2023

The EDHE Lekgotla 2023 is a three-day gathering of leaders in entrepreneurship development at universities and is aimed at engagement, expression and sharing of best and emerging practice to optimise entrepreneurship development in universities in South Africa. Stakeholders in the EDHE ecosystem gather to share their learning and experiences, while working on identifying and addressing challenges in the space of entrepreneurship development in universities. The focus should be on trends, latest developments and pockets of excellence in entrepreneurship development.

Further objectives include: • Providing an engagement platform for leaders of entrepreneurship in Higher Education; • Facilitating and supporting the work of the EDHE Communities of Practice for Student Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship in Academia and Entrepreneurial Universities; • Showcasing support businesses and organisations for entrepreneurship in Higher Education; • Providing a learning platform and voice for student entrepreneurs; and • Facilitating collaboration with local and international stakeholders.

The Programme

The programme of the EDHE Lekgotla 2023 aims to be relevant and interactive, while encouraging a diversity of perspectives and voices. The daily programme begins with an opening session at 08:30, followed by six half-day tracks, developed around relevant themes, ending with breakaways for reflection and feedback. The programme is co-created by members of the national EDHE Communities of Practice and aligned to the EDHE goals highlighted above.

The theme of the EDHE Lekgotla and Studentpreneurs Indaba 2023 is "Social innovation for societal impact", informed by the imperative of developing entrepreneurship despite concerning challenges faced within the broader socio-economic context and its impact on the higher education sector (#innovation4impact). The Lekgotla 2023 will foster relevance, interactivity, and diverse perspectives, offering a platform for sharing best practices, emerging initiatives, and the latest developments in university entrepreneurship.

The sessions of the EDHE Lekgotla 2023 were designed within an action-focused framework with a deliberate sequencing, focus and flow, i.e., showcasing initiatives, learning, practices and policies, engagement with new thinking and ideas, and launching new initiatives and programmes. The framework for this year's Lekgotla

• An open discussion, aimed at hearing the voices of participants in conversations with experts;
• a thinktank, aimed at engaging thought leaders in an attempt to grapple with and propose strategic solutions to challenges faced in the university entrepreneurship environment;
• a launchpad of new and/or existing initiatives, aimed at aligning the showcase and thinktank outcomes with the mobilisation of potentially high impact EDHE initiatives, thus ensuring that the Lekgotla, in the true EDHE spirit, culminates in action and ecosystemic change; and
• a voices for impact, aimed at breakaways for collective reflection and feedback.

Location

The in-person sessions will be hosted at the University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road. Bellville 7535.

Mode of the event

The Lekgotla will be presented in hybrid mode to ensure a memorable in-person experience for guests while providing inclusive and accessible online attendance to all stakeholders and interested persons. All key sessions will be broadcasted on the event's platform, Glue Up.

The Hosting University: The University of the Western Cape

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a prominent public university located in Bellville, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1959, UWC has a rich history and has played a significant role in South Africa's higher education landscape. It distinguishes itself through a steadfast commitment to social justice and transformation, providing academic excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines, fostering research and innovation, and prioritizing community engagement and service learning. UWC boasts a modern campus, international partnerships, a robust alumni network, and a legacy of awards and recognition, making it a vital institution in South African higher education dedicated to addressing societal challenges and promoting equality and inclusivity.

Parking

Ample parking will be available at the UWC Bellville Campus close to the Jakes Gerwel Hall.

Complimentary transport for Students (4-5 September):

Student staying at the Road Lodge CT International Airport can avail free transportation to the UWC Campus on Monday 4 September 19:30 (after the Studentpreneurs Social from 17:00-19:00), as well as on Tuesday 5 September at 7:30 to UWC. Please be sure to check out and travel with your luggage to UWC.

Shuttle services are provided by UWC for all delegates staying at the hotels mentioned below:

(allocated pick-up Zone )

• Pick-up: 7:45 in the mornings at Hotel Verde and drop off at UWC.
• Pick up between 7:00 and 7:20 at Double Tree, Southern Sun Nelson Mandela Boulevard and Protea Hotel Durbanville and drop-off at UWC.
• Pick-up in the afternoons: 17:15 and drop-off at Hotel Verde, Double Tree, Southern Sun Nelson Mandela Boulevard and Protea Hotel Durbanville.
• 2nd Pick-up at 19:10 (after the CoP meetings) and drop-off at Hotel Verde.

Student Market

Come and support our student entrepreneurs at the Student Market in the Student Centre! ATMs are available.