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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

National Astronomy Symposium at Boyden

2006-08-29

The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) will hold its 7th National Symposium at the Boyden Observatory, Bloemfontein from 28 - 30 September 2006.

The event is being organised by the Bloemfontein branch of ASSA in association with Boyden Observatory, which is linked to the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Registration is open to the public. The symposium affords interested persons the rare opportunity to get behind the scenes of Southern African astronomy and to attend presentations by speakers such as Prof. Phil Charles (SAAO), Dr. Adrian Tiplady (SKA/KAT), Dr. Patrick Seitzer (University of Michigan, USA), Prof. David Block (WITS) and Tim Cooper (ASSA).

60-inch UFS Boyden reflector telescope. Photo: Hannes Calitz

An exciting program awaits participants. Various demonstrations and presentations relating to some of the latest developments in amateur astronomy will be presented.

The Symposium will include an "astronomy presentation workshop" where a national astronomy presentation competition will be launched.

A special tour of the facilities at the Boyden Observatory will take place on Thursday evening, 28 September, and participants can see astrophysical research in action when they are shown one of the three large operational optical telescopes in Africa.

Join professional and amateur astronomers from all over the country on Friday evening, 29 September, for a memorable dinner to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Friends of Boyden, to be held at Kopano Nokeng Lodge.

Bloemfonteiners are especially encouraged to make use of this unique opportunity.

For more information and a registration form visit:

Web: www.assabfn.co.za/symposium2006

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