WBS, UJ host entrepreneurial exchange symposium

13 Jul 2009

The Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wits Business School, together with the Centre for Business Development at University of Johannesburg are co-hosting a symposium for university-based entrepreneurship programmes. The symposium, to be held on 28 July 2009, at Wits Business School is themed ‘Best practice in entrepreneurial development'.

The event seeks to attract representatives from entrepreneurial education and development programmes in each of the universities in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

“By sharing our experiences in educating entrepreneurs at universities, we have a unique opportunity to create new knowledge about developing world entrepreneurship," says Dr Kerrin Myres, director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wits Business School. “We can all benefit from closer collaboration.”

Says Professor Mthuli Ncube: director of Wits Business School: “The symposium aims to provide a platform for the exchange of innovative ideas and the exposure of best local and international practice and experience in order to improve the overall quality of entrepreneurial education and support.

"We proudly welcome the African continent to this symposium.”

Each session will commence with a panel discussion on the topic, followed by questions from the floor. The proceedings will be documented and forwarded to participants following the event.

The invited keynote speaker will be Prof. Dmitry Repin from Moscow, selected because of his experience with entrepreneurial development in the developed and developing world. Other invitees will predominantly be representatives of entrepreneurial development programmes at universities in Southern and sub-Saharan Africa.

There will be no fees payable by participants as the event will be jointly supported by the hosts, with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry. Participants travel and accommodation costs will be for their own account.

In addition to discussion of opportunities for collaboration in the entrepreneurial education, support and research, the possibility of establishing a formal association of university-based entrepreneurial development agencies will be explored.