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UFS Business School helps young people become entrepreneurs

12 December 2022 | Story Kekeletso Takang | Photo Supplied

web read more — Through the New Venture Creation Programme, the UFS Business School aims to equip unemployed youth with the skills needed to identify and assess entrepreneurial opportunities, design a basic business model, and write a business plan.

The University of the Free State Business School (UFSBS) recently hosted a New Venture Creation programme aimed at mitigating unemployment among the youth. Through this programme, the UFSBS aims to equip unemployed youth with the skills needed to identify and assess entrepreneurial opportunities, design a basic business model, and write a business plan.

The unemployment rate in South Africa was 33,9% in the second quarter of 2022, with youth remaining particularly vulnerable in the labour market. The New Venture Creation programme, funded by the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDPSETA), provides the opportunity for 100 unemployed youth in the Northern Cape and 100 unemployed youth in the North West to be part of the programme.

In addition to the UFSBS, the ETDPSETA has also partnered with the Office of the Premier in the Northern Cape, the Sol Plaatje Municipality, and the Department of Social Development. These partners assisted with the identification and recruitment of participants in order to ensure the right people were included in the programme.

“For me, the programme was informative and practical,” said Paseka Tlali, one of the top achievers taking part in the New Venture Creation programme. “It allowed me to learn about developing a business plan. Since completion, I have registered a business focusing on media consultancy. Through my business I can educate others on the importance of developing a personal brand.”

David Gool, another participant from the Northern Cape, said, “I have now become a social media ambassador working with Herbalife as their brand ambassador, thanks to the programme.”

Participants were taken on a practical journey to identify an idea and turn it into a profitable small business. Not only were they taught about new venture creation, but they were also taken on a journey to understand themselves better. The four-month programme saw participants go from attending classes to presenting their business plans to a panel that was also referred to as “The Circle of Elders”. This panel consisted of the ETDPSETA, the UFSBS, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). They provided each participant with practical feedback and guidance on how to make their planned venture a reality.

The New Venture Creation programme includes the following study units: Entrepreneurship Journey, Marketing Plan, Operations Plan, Business Model, and Business Plan Framework, among others.

Graduation ceremonies were held at the completion of the programme in De Aar and Kimberley, sponsored by Standard Bank.

Read up on more programmes offered by the UFS Business School here

News Archive

ANC Centenary Seminar looks at the role of women in the liberation struggle

2012-03-22

At the ANC Centenary Seminar were, from the left: Nadine Lake, ProgrammeDirector: Gender Studies, at the UFS; Prof. Hassim; Zubeida Jaffer, Writer-in-Residence at the UFS; and Senovia Welman from the UFS-Sasol Library.
Photo: Amanda Tongha
22 March 2012

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“Looking back at the history of South African politics you will always find women involved in that history.”

This is according to Prof. Shireen Hassim, a professor in Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, who recently spoke at an ANC Centenary Seminar, held on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). The seminar is part of a series of dialogues hosted by the Centre for Africa Studies about the ruling party’s 100 years of existence. It was the first one to be held following the 100 year celebrations of the ANC in January 2012 and was dedicated to the ANC Women’s League. Prof. Hassim told the audience that from early roles as wives who provided catering and entertainment, women have always been politically active in the African National Congress (ANC).

“ Women took the lead in the defiance campaign, going beyond the role of tea lady of the 1910s. When the ANC went into exile, the women’s section, as it was called then, played an important role.” Prof. Hassim also praised independent women’s organisations for the role they had played during the struggle and added that they were part of the collective history.

Talking about today’s Women’s League, Prof. Hassim said there had been debate about its current role with some critics labelling the league conservative. “In recent years, they have become very allied to internal battles.”

According to Prof. Hassim, a new language was needed that could give voice to the policies that needed to be developed.She drew attention to the plight of rural women, saying that thus far urban women have been taking the lead in defining issues. She warned that legislation like the Traditional Courts Bill would put rural women at a disadvantage. Prof. Hassim said the Bill was not rigorously debated, despite the high number of women in Parliament.

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