The 4th annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards 2025

Round 1: Abstact Submission

We encourage all eligible academics and support professionals to submit their applications and join us in celebrating excellence in entrepreneurship education.

  • Launch: 14 April 2025

  • Deadline: 01 June 2025

The EDHE Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards is competition that aims to showcase new ideas and new approaches for teaching and learning of entrepreneurship in higher education institutions. Targeting academics and support professionals driving entrepreneurship development that have developed a credit-bearing entrepreneurship module, -programme, -course or entrepreneurial initiative with the aim of sharing best practices among ecosystem role players.

The EDHE Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards is competition that aims to showcase new ideas and new approaches for teaching and learning of entrepreneurship in higher education institutions. Targeting academics and support professionals driving entrepreneurship development that have developed a credit-bearing entrepreneurship module, -programme, -course or entrepreneurial initiative with the aim of sharing best practices among ecosystem role players.

The Awards were established in 2022 to acknowledge the vital role of practical and relevant teaching methods in cultivating an entrepreneurial culture within HEIs. The awards highlight the milestones achieved in various programs while acknowledging the challenges faced in incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship into the curriculum.

Mastering innovation and entrepreneurship skills is imperative for shaping a thriving society in the 21st century. While certain universities provide specialised degrees or courses in these domains, others integrate these concepts across a range of disciplines. However, teaching and researching these subjects pose considerable challenges. Often, courses and modules tend to be theoretical, lacking the practical expertise essential for fostering entrepreneurial spirit among students. Nonetheless, positive strides are being made globally to address this gap, such as the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Awards at the annual European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE).

This competition provides a unique opportunity to:

  • Gain national recognition: Showcase your innovative teaching and learning practices on a prominent stage.
  • Win R10,000 for your university: Invest in further development of your entrepreneurship initiatives.
  • Share best practices: Inspire and learn from other educators in the field.
  • Contribute to the growth of entrepreneurship education: Help shape the future of South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The inaugural awards in 2022 recognised the groundbreaking work of Mr. Juan Ontong, Ms. Sher-Lee Arendse-Fourie, and Dr. Ruenda Loots from Stellenbosch University, as well as Mr. Stuart Hendry from the University of Cape Town.

In 2023, Ms. Thulile Ndlovu and Mr. Nyane Mofokeng from the Durban University of Technology won first place for their DUT-Ngodini Bunduz Entrepreneurship Advancement Project, which focuses on community engagement in marginalised rural communities.

2024 winner, Dr Leonie Greyling from bhive Enterprise Development Centre at North West University.

  • Applicants wishing to participate in the competition must be an academic or staff member affiliated with a South African Higher Education Institution.
  • This must be a credit-bearing course/module/programme.
  • The competition is not intended for students; it is specifically directed towards academics and support professionals who have personally developed an entrepreneurship module, programme, or course.
  • Submissions will be penalised if all required information is not submitted as per the structure provided. A prescribed template is provided.
  • Should the case study not meet academic quality standards, you will be disqualified.
  • Submissions must be professionally language-edited and written with academic rigor.
  • The Case Study cannot exceed 6000 words. Case studies that exceed the required words will be disqualified.
  • The main beneficiaries should be students.

Important Dates

  • 14 April – 01 June
    LAUNCH Round 1,  Entries open – Abstract submission.

  • 13 – 20 June
    Notification of shortlisted participants through to Round 2.

  • 23 June – 05 September
    Round 2, Structured Case Study submissions for shortlisted candidates close.

  • 06 – 15 September
    Review period.

  • 19 – 22 September
    Notification to top 10 Case Studies.

  • 22 – 26 September
    Round 3, International Review of top 10 Case Studies.

  • 09 – 10 October
    Round 4, Showcasing & presentations of the top 5 Case Studies to Judges at the annual EDHE Lekgotla 2025.

  • 21 November:
    Announcement of the top 3 winners at the annual EDHE Awards event in Gauteng.

Project Coordinator

Project Manager

The process

Round 1 - Abstract Submission

Round 1 required you to submit a 300-word abstract of an innovative credit-bearing programme, short course, module, or initiative at your institution.

The following information is required online via the EDHE website:

  • Date submitted
  • Submitted by
  • University
  • Contact e-mail & number of the university representative
  • 300-word Case study

Round 2 - Case Study Submission

The following information is required online via the EDHE website:

  • Title, Name Surname
  • E-mail
  • Phone numbers
  • Date submitted
  • Submitted by
  • University
  • Contact name and e-mail of the university representative

Uploading your Case Study as per the required format vi the EDHE website

Required format:

  • 6000 words maximum
  • Font: Arial
  • Size: 11
  • Spacing: 1.15

Cover Page:

  • The title of the programme/module or initiative
  • Name of University
  • Author/s
  • Names of participants in the initiative that need to be recognised
  • Contact details and e-mail address of the university representative
  • Date submitted

Headings:

  1. The title and mandate of the Programme/ Module or Initiative, including the targeted young entrepreneurs.
  2. What sustainability problems are this initiative trying to address?
  3. The criteria used to screen applicants/ youth entrepreneurs.
  4. Strategies to encourage the inclusion of diverse candidates.
  5. The infrastructure/support provided by the institution.
  6. The lins to other entrepreneurship activities within the institution.
  7. Describe the ecosystem of the initiative.
  8. The performance of the Programme/Module/ Initiative so far, including any ratings by participants.
  9. The challenges that were encountered.
  10. Plans to further develop/improve the initiative.

 (This section will EXCLUDE the 6000 word-count)

Annexures
Include Visuals (Charts, Graphs, Images): These visuals should help viewers understand complex data and break up text-heavy content.

  • Link to website/video footage to support the submission.
  • References list

Round 3 - International Review

The top 10 case studies will be reviewed by a minimum of three international reviewers.  The reviewers must be affiliated with a university and sho

Review panel Criteria:

  • Panel members must be affiliated with a recognised higher education institution, ensuring credibility and understanding of the academic landscape.
  • Members should possess significant knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship education, including current trends, challenges, and effective teaching strategies in the field.
  • Reviewers must have a background in developing, delivering, or assessing entrepreneurship courses, modules, or programs, providing insight into best practices in teaching and learning.
  • Knowledge of pedagogical theories, instructional design, and assessment methods is essential, ensuring that submissions are evaluated on effective teaching and learning practices.
  • Knowledge of pedagogical theories, instructional design, and assessment methods is essential, ensuring that submissions are evaluated on effective teaching and learning practices.
  • Review panelists are expected to conduct evaluations ethically and confidentially, upholding the integrity of the awards process.

Round 4 - Online Presentations (Top 5 Finalists)

All successful case studies will be shortlisted and adjudicated.  The top 5 will be been invited to present their initiatives online or in-person in Round 3, taking place on 9/10 October at the EDHE Lekgotla 2025 in front of a panel of Judges.

The top 5 finalists will be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation which should include a 3 minute video to showcase the initiative to a panel of judges (1 min set-up, 7 min presentation, a 3 min video, followed by 5 min Q&A from Judges) – 16 min in TOTAL. The announcement of the top 3 Case Studies will be made at the annual EDHE Awards 2025 on 21 November 2025.

SCORING
During Round 3 judges will be required to evaluate three aspects (5 excellent, 4 Good, 3 Average, 2 fair, 1 poor). The marks allocated will contribute towards the score allocated in Round 2 to give an overall mark out of 75.

Abstract Submissions – Round 01

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