We are building sustainable businesses for a better future. Universities South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), proudly announces the 6th annual EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba 2024. This year’s event will be hosted at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) in Johannesburg from 5-6 September 2024.

The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Studentpreneurs Indaba is aimed at supporting student entrepreneurs and existing start-ups or small businesses through sharing knowledge, best practices, opportunities, practical learnings, and networking opportunities.. 

The objectives of the Studentpreneurs Indaba include:

  • Providing an engagement platform for student leaders of entrepreneurship in Higher Education; 
  • Facilitating and supporting the work of the EDHE Communities of Practice; 
  • Showcasing student businesses and organisations for entrepreneurship in Higher Education; 
  • Providing a learning platform and voice for student entrepreneurs; and 
  • Facilitating collaboration with local stakeholders.

This year’s theme, “Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Building Businesses for a Better Future,” urges student entrepreneurs to integrate sustainability into their ventures. The aim is to build businesses that achieve economic success while contributing to a healthier environment and a more equitable society. The Indaba seeks to inspire, challenge, and equip aspiring entrepreneurs to redefine business models and lead the next wave of innovation in South Africa.

The theme builds upon the 2023 theme of “Social Innovation for Societal Impact,” extending the focus to include environmental and economic sustainability. Student entrepreneurs are advised to integrate these critical dimensions into their ventures.

What’s in Store: The Indaba promises an immersive experience with Quest Visits, where student groups will visit successful entrepreneurs in their workspaces. These visits will offer firsthand exposure to day-to-day business operations, personal stories, and meaningful discussions. The objectives are to inspire with real-life success stories, educate on practical industry insights, facilitate networking with local entrepreneurs, and highlight essential entrepreneurial skills.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from different industries including Technology, Green Economy, Creative Industries, Social Enterprises, Food and Beverage, Health and Wellness, Retail, and Manufacturing. Each participant will visit two companies within their chosen industry, guided by selected quest guides to ensure a smooth and enriching experience.

Action-Packed Sessions: This event will feature real-life experiences from student entrepreneurs, interactive panel discussions, breakaway sessions for smaller groups, and workshops with hands-on activities and discussions. These sessions aim to foster vibrant discussions, collaborative learning, and actionable insights, empowering participants to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem within their communities.

The EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba annually aims to engage student leaders in entrepreneurship within Higher Education, support the EDHE Communities of Practice, showcase student businesses and entrepreneurial organisations, provide a platform for learning and a voice for student entrepreneurs, and facilitate collaboration with local stakeholders.

The Experience: Be a part of this immersive event in-person, some of the sessions will be streamed online via the EDHE YouTube channel.

Register Now: Join us at the EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba 2024 to embark on an inspiring journey towards sustainable entrepreneurship! Registrations are open, interested students can take advantage of the early bird special of R400 per person for the 2-day event. To register and make payments, attendees will have to download the Glue Up app – visit the EDHE website: https://edhe.co.za/edhe-studentpreneurs-indaba-2024/.   

For media inquiries, contact Ms Khutso Moleko (khutso.moleko@usaf.ac.za).

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Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) is the national platform for the advancement and support of entrepreneurship in universities across South Africa. As a program of the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) and Universities South Africa (USAf), EDHE aims to equip students and graduates for economic participation through entrepreneurial activity, support academics in developing entrepreneurship through teaching and research, and foster entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems within.