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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

UFS honours many during Autumn Diploma and Graduation Ceremony

2006-04-06

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award 857 diplomas and 2 579 degrees on 21 April 2006 and from 24-26 April 2006 during this year’s autumn diploma and graduation ceremony. Students from the Main Campus and Vista Campus will take part in the ceremony.

Altogether 35 doctorates and two honorary doctorates will be awarded. The honorary doctorandi are Mr Pieter Cox (Ph D (hc)) and Mr Terry Moss (Ph D (hc)). Mr Cox is the non-executive chairperson of Sasol Limited and Mr Moss is General Manager: Generation Business Enhancement at Eskom.

On 21 April 2006 at 08:30 altogether 347 diplomas in all the faculties (except the upgrading programmes in the School of Education) will be awarded. On the same day at 14:30 altogether 361 degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (excluding B Acc, B Admin, B Pub and related honours, master’s and doctor’s degrees) will be awarded.

On 24 April 2006 at 08:30 altogether 510 diplomas will be awarded in the School of Education (ACE, NPDE and CE). That same day at 14:30 altogether 314 degrees, one doctorate and one honorary doctorate will be awarded in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (i.e. B Acc, B Admin, B Pub and related honours, master’s and doctor’s degrees). The honorary doctorate will be awarded to Mr Pieter Cox during this ceremony.

Mr Cox will be honoured for being the driving force behind Sasol’s global expansion and the subsequent listing of Sasol on the New York Stock Exchange. His passion and focus ensure that Sasol as a national asset is constantly making history, despite the sometimes hostile economic and environmental influences.

On 25 April at 08:30 altogether 325 degrees and 9 doctorates will be awarded in the faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology. That same day at 14:30 altogether 554 degrees, 13 doctorates and one honorary doctorate will be awarded in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The honorary doctorate will be awarded to Mr Terry Moss during this ceremony.

Mr Moss is regarded as a modern-day South African industrialist. He will be honoured for his dedication to the provision of sustainable renewable energy to the citizens of South Africa and Southern Africa through the development and promotion of the hydroelectric power industry and other sources of renewable electrical energy.

On 26 April at 08:30 altogether 427 degrees and 5 doctorates will be awarded in the Faculty of the Humanities and that same afternoon at 14:30 altogether 598 degrees and 7 doctorates will be awarded in the School of Education.

Both the diploma and degree ceremonies will be held in the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 April 2006

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