By Johnathan Paoli
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has become the focal point of entrepreneurial discourse this week as it hosts the two-day Studentpreneurs Indaba, convened under the banner of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) initiative.
Opening the Indaba at Unisa’s Pretoria campus, Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the occasion; describing the Indaba as a platform that moves beyond conventional academic engagement by fostering practical innovation and entrepreneurship.
“This Indaba provides a platform for young innovators to build systems that drive development in our country, strengthen our continent and showcase the very best that Africa has to offer through their ideas and creativity,” LenkaBula said.
Themed “Entrepreneurship for Sustainability”, the gathering has brought together students, policymakers, global leaders and innovators to explore how knowledge and research can be transformed into viable enterprises that strengthen communities, create jobs, and advance Africa’s development agenda.
LenkaBula noted that South African universities were increasingly called upon not only to equip students with academic knowledge but also to prepare them to respond to complex societal challenges such as unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Entrepreneurship, she argued, was one of the most effective tools available to transform academic learning into real-world solutions.
She commended the students and young entrepreneurs present for their determination to use research, skills and passion to create opportunities rather than wait for them.
“What is remarkable about this gathering is that it is filled with young people who are determined not to be job seekers, but job creators. You are innovators, builders, and visionaries who can turn challenges into opportunities,” the VC said.
She emphasised that sustainability must underpin the entrepreneurial journey.
“As studentpreneurs, you are tasked with more than launching businesses. You are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that your innovations contribute to environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and economic justice,” she said.
The indaba forms part of a broader national and continental effort to position higher education institutions as catalysts for inclusive development.
EDHE, supported by the Higher Education and Training department and Universities South Africa (USAf), aims to create entrepreneurial universities that nurture a culture of innovation while equipping students with the tools to thrive in uncertain economic climates.
Delegates at the Indaba are drawn from across South Africa and beyond, including participants from other African countries, signalling the importance of cross-border collaboration.
Global partners, business leaders and policymakers have also joined the conversation to ensure that student entrepreneurs have access to mentorship, networks and investment opportunities.
LenkaBula highlighted the strategic role Unisa is playing in this movement.
“As the largest university on the continent, Unisa carries both a responsibility and an opportunity. We are determined to be at the forefront of shaping futures in the service of humanity by integrating entrepreneurship into our teaching, research, and community engagement,” she said.
LenkaBula’s opening at the Indaba also comes at a time when she has been steering Unisa towards a more holistic model of higher education that embraces cultural heritage alongside academic and entrepreneurial development.
Delegates at the Indaba expressed optimism about the opportunities it would unlock.
LenkaBula closed her remarks by urging students to embrace both courage and creativity; and that entrepreneurship is not an optional extra, but a necessity for sustainability and resilience.
“The future belongs to those who are bold enough to imagine it and diligent enough to build it. May this Indaba light the spark of entrepreneurship that will sustain not only your lives but also the lives of generations to come,” she said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
