Question NW947 to the Minister of Small Business Development

Reply:

a) Details of the academic community in relation to the meeting held on 20 October 2017:

NAME	INSTITUTION NAME
1.Prof Richard Shambare	University of Venda
2. Dr Poppet (Gnanam) Pillay	Durban University of Technology
3. Dr Santra Moodley	Durban University of Technology
4. Joyce Sibeko	University of Johannesburg
6. Tendai Chimucheka	University of Forthare
6. Prof Margaret Cullen	Nelson Mandela University
7. Dr Seboka Kopung	Northwest University
8. Ms Natanya Meyer	Northwest University
9. Dr Tsidi Mohapeloa	Rhodes University
10. Dr Norah Clarke	University of Johannesburg
11. Dr Yvonne Senne	Tshwane University of Technology
12. Prof Evelyn Chiloane-Tsoka	UNISA
13. Lindiwe Kunene	University of KwaZulu Natal
14. Dr Khotso de Wee	University of Fort Hare
15. Dr Tendai Chimucheka	University of Fort Hare
16. Raan Steenberg	Tshwane University of Technology
17. Ms Joyce Sibeko	University of Johannesburg
18. Dr Natanya Meyer	University of North West
NAME	INSTITUTION NAME
19. Ms Malindi Kunene	University of KwaZulu Natal
20. Dr Thobeka Ncanywa	University of Limpopo
21. Charlotte Mashaba	KZN-KOTT
22. Ms Charleen Duncan	University of the Western Cape
23. Dr Richard Shambare	University of Venda
24. Ms Chemene Chetty	University of Witwatersrand
25. Seboka Kopung	University of North West
26. Althea Mvula	Tshwane University of Technology
27. Mr Roy Maponya	Dr Richard Maponya Institute
28. Mr Riaan Steenberg	Altovation Consulting
29.Anthony Cooper	Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
30. Gordan Godsal	Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
31. Ms Charlotte Mashaba	KZN•ROTT
32. Dr Randall Jonas	Nelson Mandela University

(b) Outcomes of the meeting:

OUTCOME 1: IDENTIFICATION OF GAPS AND AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

In relation to the expected outcome of identification of gaps and areas of improvement in entrepreneurship education, it was reflected that the approach to entrepreneurship education can be broadly categorized into two major approaches, the first being “education for entrepreneurship” and secondly “education about entrepreneurship”. The former has a practical focus on entrepreneurship education and the goal is to equip the learner with entrepreneurial skills. The latter focuses on the theoretical aspect of entrepreneurship education and its goal is to provide the student with knowledge pertaining to the various schools of thought around entrepreneurship. The gap that was identified is that the bulk of higher education learning around entrepreneurship has mainly focused on the theoretical approach which is education about entrepreneurship without necessarily equipping the leaner with practical skills that are required for entrepreneurship. Therefore there is a need to further engage institutions of learning on how the two approaches to entrepreneurship education can be brought into alignment with the country’s priority to train and develop an increasing number of entrepreneurs and to improve the skills base of existing entrepreneurs for business sustainability. Consideration will be given on the approach as the discourse around embedding entrepreneurship education into curricular continues.

OUTCOME 2: A PLAN ON HOW DSBD CAN COLLABORATE WITH ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The second outcome speaks to the outlining of a plan on how the DSBD can collaborate with academia, government departments and Development Finance Institutions to ensure the development and growth of entrepreneurship. It emerged from the discussions that there were already efforts that had been taking place between various institutions and different sections of the public sector. It was established that because these efforts were fragmented and the impact thereof has been limited and minimal. A need for greater collaboration between all the stakeholders was identified. Going forward, it was determined that DSBD would have further engagements with higher education institutions and other government departments as a step towards coordination and collaboration. An invitation from DHET to DSBD was extended to attend their upcoming workshop on entrepreneurship education. This received a positive response from DSBD as DHET has already established a network of stakeholders around entrepreneurship education. It was generally agreed that stakeholders would share information on any new and ongoing programmes with regard to entrepreneurship education.

OUTCOME 3: THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTIONS (DFIS)

The third outcome was concerning the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in entrepreneurship education. It was highlighted that efforts to promote entrepreneurship within institutions of higher learning often lacked the necessary financial resources which is an inhibiting factor for entrepreneurship education. It was suggested that there is a need to get commitment from various institutions to provide some type of financial investment towards entrepreneurship education. Therefore, the final plan on how the Department will collaborate will be drafted once existing collaborations have been determined in order to avoid duplication.

OUTCOME 4: GENERATION OF A DEPARTMENTAL-INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH PROTOCOL AND FRAMEWORK THAT WILL KEEP GOVERNMENT ABREAST OF THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ENTERPRISES.

The fourth outcome was in respect of generating a Departmental-Institutions of Higher Education research protocol and framework that will keep government abreast of the impact of entrepreneurship education on the development of small enterprises. It was reiterated that the promotion of research within entrepreneurship should be prioritised and that the already existing body of knowledge should be shared with the Department. It was discussed that some institutions made deliberate efforts towards updating research methodologies and strategies and therefore a connection between the Department and them would be of great benefit.

OUTCOME 5: DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH-LEVEL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH MULTI-STAKEHOLDER SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE COMMERCIALISATION OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND PROVISION OF INTEGRATED SUPPORT SERVICES (CO-LOCATION)

The fifth outcome spoke of the development of a high-level framework within which multi-stakeholder small business development support partnerships will be established within institutions of higher education to ensure the commercialisation of innovative ideas and provision of integrated support services (co-location). It was discussed that some institutions were already implementing such arrangements particularly with SEDA, lessons on best practice around co-location would be shared among the stakeholders.

(c) Feedback that influenced policy direction on the Department

One of the main emerging points from the roundtable discussion was a need for the Department to be more intentional in its collaboration with institutions of higher learning regarding the promotion of entrepreneurship. The DSBD has an approved research agenda in place that reflects its thematic and priority areas of research around small, medium micro enterprises and cooperatives. A draft research plan has been formulated for the financial year 2018/2019. The Department is engaging higher education institutions with a view to entering into partnerships around research on SMMES and cooperatives.

In this regard, the Department intends utilising post-graduate students that are engaged in research commensurate with the thematic areas of the approved DSBD research agenda. Moreover the proposed partnership/s will allow the DSBD to conduct research in a cost effective manner and afford post-graduate students access to data and respondents for successful implementation and completion of research projects.

To date the Department has engaged with several academic institutions with the aim of forming research partnerships. The response from the academic institutions has been positive however at this stage formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are yet to be finalised. The latest of these engagements was on 01 June 2018, wherein the Minister addressed the South African Commerce Deans Association of all South African Universities at the Turfloop University, in Limpopo. The Minister addressed some of the issues raised in the October 2017 Colloquium with the Deans at this engagement, to which the Deans noted the input and later agreed among themselves to set up a team to follow up and implement some of these proposals.