South Africa’s higher education institutions have made significant strides in embedding entrepreneurship, but more could be done to encourage innovative thinking.
This is the word from Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, deputy minister of higher education and training, speaking at the seventh annual Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Lekgotla at the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) Pretoria Campus last week,.
Under this year’s theme of “Entrepreneurship for Sustainability”, the Lekgotla (held on 8 and 9 October) dovetailed with the 8th annual EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba (held on 6 and 7 October), with the combined event being hosted by Universities South Africa (USAf), in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
“Through the EDHE programme, we have witnessed not only growth, but transformation,” says Dr Dube-Ncube. “Year after year, the programme has expanded its reach, deepened its impact and reshaped the narrative around entrepreneurship in our institutions.
“Entrepreneurship is no longer a peripheral activity. It is now strategically recognised as a priority area within our universities. Leadership is not only embracing it; they are driving it, integrating it into the very fabric of their institutions. We are energised by this shift. It sends a powerful message to every student: your ideas, your creativity and your ventures are valued.”
Dr Dube-Ncube notes that initiatives such as Communities of Practice and Economic Activation Offices are shaping entrepreneurial thinking, not just within universities, but among students themselves. These young people are not merely running businesses; they are redefining what it means to be a student. They are role models, a new generation of heroes, paving the way for their peers.
“To our academics and researchers: you hold immense power. Every lecture, every conversation, every piece of research can plant the seed of entrepreneurial thinking. We call on you to innovate, to deliberate, to conduct research focused on solutions that can be commercialised. Encourage a mindset that sees challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities.”
The minister pointed out that she, together with Minister of Education Buti Manamela, is driving the imperative that every university and every Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college must partner with the industries, as young people should not just be trained and educated for the job market, but to participate meaningfully in the economy.
During her opening address at the Lekgotla, Universities South Africa (UASf) CEO Dr Phethiwe Matutu explained that the conference was convened with a clear purpose to advance entrepreneurship for sustainability.
“We recognise entrepreneurship as a powerful driver of economic growth, innovation, job creation and social transformation. It promotes responsible business models and sustainable practices, and universities are central to cultivating vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystems,” she says.
“Entrepreneurship must become part of the DNA of our institutions. We focus on student entrepreneurs, on the scholarship of entrepreneurship (teaching and learning), and on transforming our universities into entrepreneurial entities.”
The conference also explored themes such as sustainable innovation, including green, blue and circular economies; social entrepreneurship; sustainable investment; and the role of technology. This is in line with South Africa’s government prioritising areas such as the green economy and artificial intelligence, which makes it imperative for universities to align with these national and global priorities.