The 7th annual Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Lekgotla took place at the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) Pretoria Campus this week, attracting some 350 academics, practitioners and partners who participated in a dynamic and inclusive platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration.
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).
Delivering her keynote address on the opening day of the Lekgotla, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube noted that DHET has made significant strides in embedding entrepreneurship within the higher education landscape.
“Through the EDHE programme, we have witnessed not only growth, but transformation. Year after year, the programme has expanded its reach, deepened its impact and reshaped the narrative around entrepreneurship in our institutions,” she stated.
“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 noted 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,” she added.
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.
From left to right: Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube (Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training); Dr Phethiwe Matutu (Universities South Africa CEO)
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 said.
“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 Lekgotla features various panel discussions, think tanks, workshops, presentations and site visits to local startups. Local and international experts and academics discussed topics such as what Artificial Intelligence tools African universities can use to enhance idea generation, reduce costs and risks of research and development and speed up research. They also explored where these tools provide an opportunity for innovation and the scaling thereof. Panellists also explored funding opportunities for innovations coming out of universities.
The conference further 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.
