Change the world

28/06/2022

Nelson Mandela University will host this year’s Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Lekgotla, which is an annual gathering of leaders in the entrepreneurial space in the Higher Education (HE) sector.

The Annual EDHE Lekgotla, now in its sixth year, is coming to the Eastern Cape for the first time from 19 to 22 July 2022, at the Boardwalk Convention Centre. The Lekgotla is an annual gathering of leaders, academics and support professionals in entrepreneurship at universities, and is the flagship event of the EDHE Programme.

The EDHE is the national platform for the advancement of entrepreneurship at universities, which has become rather critical in light of the staggering youth unemployment rate.

The theme for this year’s Lekgotla is #movetomarket. It is informed by the importance of commercialising research, as well as the significance of positioning student entrepreneurs for active participation in the economy by entering the market with their products and services.

Student entrepreneurship is a key focus area for Mandela University, with the dedicated Madibaz Youth Entrepreneurship Lab established within the Student Life and Development unit to streamline students’ efforts at enterprising and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem within the institution.

Mandela University is excited to host the sixth annual EDHE Lekgotla, to which all interested parties are invited to join in person to have the full Lekgotla experience.

“The Lekgotla will afford the University a platform to showcase its work in promoting the entrepreneurship development ecosystem,” says Mr Luthando Jack, the University’s Dean of Students.

“Our student entrepreneurs will be able to demonstrate their business prototypes, exchange ideas and learn from their colleagues from other universities.  This is such a great opportunity for our flagship programme and the Lekgotla is a fantastic opportunity to cement Mandela University as a key player in the emerging national movement towards cultivating entrepreneurial universities.”

In the build-up to the Lekgotla, and as part of a Youth Month commemoration campaign, student entrepreneurs are being showcased on Mandela University’s social media platforms under this year’s June 16 commemoration theme of promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow.

Photographers, hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians and DJs are among the business that are being profiled.

The EDHE Lekgotla is hosted in collaboration with Universities South Africa (USAf) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), with the support of the five national EDHE Communities of Practice (CoPs).

It will take place from Tuesday, 19 July, to Thursday, 21 July, from 9:00 to 17:00 daily, followed by the one-day EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba on Friday, 22 July. 

To register for this year’s EDHE Lekgotla, please visit www.edhe.co.za and follow the Instagram page @edhestudententrepreneurship for updates.

For registration enquiries:

Zamaswazi Shabangu
Email: zamaswazi@usaf.ac.za
Cell: 073-800-6120 

Desree Boloka 
Email: desree@usaf.ac.za 
Cell: 071-529-1636 

Contact information
Ms Zandile Mbabela
Media Manager
Tel: 0415042777
Zandile.Mbabela@mandela.ac.za