Written by: Elizabeth Kunene

The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Faculty of Arts and Design hosted an entrepreneurship day workshop at the Arthur Smith Hall at City campus, to inform and engage with students that are looking at going independently or even start a Non Profitable Organisations (NGO).

“Entrepreneurship should be part of any school curriculum,” said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his keynote address at the Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) that took place earlier this year in Johannesburg. An entrepreneur offers a way for the country to progress in its credit rating, grow the economy and cut unemployment.

Nirvana Ramsaroop, who was one of the main speakers in the event, emphasised on the importance of students being entrepreneurs.

“Being an entrepreneur is more of thinking out of the box and challenging yourself. We must also remember that South Africa is in the top 25 in the entrepreneurship development in the world at this point anything is possible,” said Ramsaroop.

Ramsaroop also added that innovation and technology should be one of the few things young people should remember.

“If we increase and improve our entrepreneurship growth by 10% we could make the economy $176 billion in one year as a country,” she said.

Dr G Pillay who is part of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at ML Sultan campus was there to let students know about opportunities they have while they are still in university. She spoke about the incubation process that will start in September for selected entrepreneur students. She also said they could help entrepreneurs in the university to link up with investors.

Students were encouraged to pitch their ideas to start a business and possibly get selected for a one year entrepreneurship classes that will be funded by various organisations.

Siyanda Mbele and Casey Jeanne Atelier, both DUT alumni, motivated students and showed some of their achievements that they had acquired shortly since starting their business.

As part of advice offered to budding entrepreneurs, Atelier said, “Set a long time goal than a short term goal, you need to plan everything and work hard every day.”

*Caption: students at the Arthur Smith Hall.