In line with Wits Business School and Department of Trade and Industry's (the dti) commitment to ensure that small businesses progressively increase their contribution to the South African economy, the two institutions have embarked on a collaborative and strategic partnership.
Through this partnership, Wits Business School will officially launch the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) on Thursday, 1 October, 2009. The Centre will be formally launched by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Maria Ntuli. The formalities will take place at 12h00 at the Wits Business School Parktown Campus.
'This type of Public-Private Partnership must be encouraged and supported to ensure that we succeed in developing our economy. We view entrepreneurship as one of the important pillars for creating sustainable economic growth and achieving some of our developmental goals,' said Deputy Minister Ntuli.
The vision of the CfE is to become the centre of excellence in entrepreneurship development in the developing world. In so doing, the Centre aims to contribute to the attainment of the University’s vision and also contribute directly to the national goal of wealth and job creation.
"The CfE’s vision will be achieved through the development of core competencies in entrepreneurial education, support and research, which together create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes and nurtures entrepreneurial capacity in individuals, communities and organisations across South Africa," explained Dr Kerrin Myres, Director of the Wits Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship acts as a key driver of innovation and growth in any economy. In this regard, the Wits Business School’s CfE is driven by long-term goals that support entrepreneurial development.
These goals include:
* Developing skills in new enterprise creation among potential entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on unemployed graduates, women and students
* Fostering the professional development of practising entrepreneurs to enhance the probability of survival, success and growth of new ventures
* Helping to meet the entrepreneurs’ need for access to opportunities, resources and expertise through a volunteer based programme of support
* Encouraging collaboration between scientific/technical researchers at the University and the entrepreneurs emerging from the CfE and Wits Business School business programmes
* Expanding and promoting the entrepreneurship knowledge base through research into new venture creation and sustainability and best practice in entrepreneurial capacity building.
* Acting as a catalyst for sharing knowledge about entrepreneurial capacity building.
"The collaborative partnership with the Wits Business School's CfE and the dti is representative of the school's integrated approach to entrepreneurship development and support," said Professor Mthuli Ncube, Executive Director of the School.
He added that "Over the last year, the CfE has been at the forefront of entrepreneurial development and training for many professional and student entrepreneurs. Our partnership with the dti is testimony to the fact that we will remain at the ahead of such development. By working together with the dti, the centre seeks to develop, promote and improve the culture of entrepreneurship among the different communities in South Africa."
For media queries contact:
Lillian Mofokeng
Cell: 082 888 8362
E-mail: LMofokeng@thedti.gov.za
Bianca Brimiah
Tel: 011 463 8190
E-mail: bianca@platinumpr.co.za
Nevasha Naidoo
Tel: 011 706 1160
Cell: 084 622 4447
E-mail: nevasha@platinumpr.co.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
28 September 2009
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.thedti.gov.za)
