In collaboration with the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA), CPUT, along with Stellenbosch University (SU), hosted a transformative training workshop as part of the University-Industry Co-Creation (UNIICo-create) project, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

This week-long event was held at Stellenbosch University and at CPUT, culminating at the Granger Bay Campus and was aimed at building entrepreneurial universities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region by promoting collaboration and co-creation of a unique, broad-scope entrepreneurial curriculum, drawing on knowledge and expertise from academia, industry, and government.

It promised to be, and delivered on, an insightful journey into shaping the future of education and innovation creation across the SADC.

Prof Muhammad Nakhooda, co-lead of the project, stated that the UNIICo-create workshop aimed to promote this entrepreneurial university vision by providing institutions in the SADC region with the necessary tools—both physical resources and knowledge — to develop entrepreneurship-focused curricula for all undergraduate students. Nakhooda said the workshop aimed to look at ways to integrate co-creation units within Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and strengthen innovation ecosystems to address unemployment and enhance regional competitiveness.

He noted that effective collaboration between universities and government institutions will create an environment conducive to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. “Within UNIICo-create, this partnership allows academics to translate research into societal solutions, while policymakers align national frameworks to institutional contexts and realities. Through such shared workshops, the relevant ministries of the participating institutions and countries will gain a view into academic processes, and universities will be able to access platforms for policy dialogue and resource mobilisation, to create universities that are engines of regional innovation and entrepreneurship”.

The event included panel discussions with a variety of industry and government guests, among them being Karen Eksteen, Founder and CEO of Innocircle; Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director of Spinout Companies and Funds at INNOVUS; Sheena Paulus, Owner of Tri-Toad Nursery; and Antonie van der Hoek, Partner at BDO. Dr Makhapa Makhafola, CFO of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), along with Prof Karin Jacobs from Stellenbosch University and Founder and CEO of Sporatec, chaired the discussion.

Reflecting on the event, Project Lead of the Erasmus+ THENSA UNIICO Entrepreneurship Project at CPUT, Prof Lalini Reddy, said the feedback from workshop partners and invited industry partners was unanimous about the significance and urgency in promoting entrepreneurship in the undergraduate curriculum. “This strengthened our zeal to spread this enthusiasm to the university at large.”

Going forward, Reddy said the faculty workshops and other networking events are planned with academics and industry partners to integrate entrepreneurship into the undergraduate curriculum as well as provide training for academics to be effective entrepreneurship educators.

“A Co-Creation Unit and a University Industry Government Advisory Board is planned as part of this project to serve as a focal point of interaction amongst academics, students, community, funders, and industry partners,” Reddy noted.

“I look forward to the collaborative spirit that defines UNIICo-create: the opportunity to contribute to shaping future-ready curricula, strengthen regional partnerships, and translate innovation into tangible impact for students, communities, and industries alike. We want to grow the economies in our regions, and universities-industry-government partnerships represent the most meaningful way to achieve this.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo has added yet another feather to his cap after being nominated to a prime leadership position with Universities South Africa (USAf).

Nhlapo has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Finance and Investment Committee of USAf, and will now play a pivotal role in ensuring the organisations financial stability and investment strategy.

USAf is an umbrella body of the 26 public universities in the country and plays a critical role in advocating for the Higher Education sector to a range of national and international stakeholders.

The VC also holds another prestigious chairmanship, he is the current Chairman of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (Thensa). Thensa is a formation of all technology focused universities in South Africa.

As the Vice Chancellor of one of the largest universities in South Africa, Nhlapo is no stranger to managing the financial obligations of a large organisation and adhering to all regulatory obligations. Thanks to his firm and decisive leadership Nhlapo has ensured that CPUT has always been given unqualified audits and continues to impress with its strict financial prudence.

Nhlapo welcomed his appointment and assured USAf and its members that he would work in its best interests to ensure the organisation remained in good financial stead.

“Thank you for the trust that has been shown in me and my abilities to lead the Finance and Investment Committee of USAf. Under my stewardship I will ensure that the organisation maintains and strengthens its financial footing and to always work towards the betterment of all 26 member universities,” he said.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

CPUT has joined forces with the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) and six other universities to launch the Entrepreneurship Venture Builder (EVB), a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southern Africa.

The EVB is committed to empowering entrepreneurs from Universities of Technology, Historically Disadvantaged Universities and marginalised communities. The programme will provide a comprehensive support system to guide participants in transforming innovative business ideas into successful businesses.

At a recent gathering of the founding members, Prof Michael Twum-Darko, the EVB Manager, said “We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating pathways for entrepreneurs to flourish in the African market.”

Key Features of the EVB include:

• Mentor-in-Residence Programme: Expert mentorship from university staff specialising in technology transfer, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Incubation and Acceleration: Support to navigate the journey from Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to commercialisation.
• Focus on Inclusion: Dedicated to empowering student entrepreneurs and individuals from historically marginalised communities.
• Regional Impact: Initially hosted at CPUT’s ‘Business Innovation and Incubation Centre’, the EVB will expand to a decentralised model across multiple universities.

The other founding members include Durban University of Technology, University of Venda, Tshwane University of Technology, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Central University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University. The EVB is funded by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) fund, a UK International Development initiative, and represents a significant step towards strengthening campus or community-based innovation and research-to-commercialisation systems across South Africa.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT and the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) recently hosted the online launch of the Southern African Entrepreneurship Venture Builder (SA EVB), a groundbreaking initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

This significant achievement was made possible through collaboration with key University of Technology partners, including Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Central University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Venda, Walter Sisulu University and Namibia University of Science and Technology.

Prof Michael Twum-Darko, EVB Manager and Head of the Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC) said: “The SA EVB, hosted by CPUT’s Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC), is set to revolutionise the landscape of startup development in Southern Africa. With funding secured through a RISA grant, the EVB is designed to bridge the gap between technology innovation and commercialisation, offering a structured ecosystem for venture creation, mentorship, and funding opportunities.”

The virtual launch event brought together founders, investors, mentors, advisors, industry partners, and community leaders to officially mark the initiative's debut. The engagement sought to raise awareness of the EVB, build credibility, attract investment, and promote collaboration among academia, industry, and government sectors.

The session began with welcome remarks from Prof Henk de Jager, CEO of THENSA, and Dr Sershen Naidoo, EVB Project Manager. They highlighted the importance of an integrated venture-building model that supports entrepreneurs from ideation to commercialisation.

A promotional video was presented, showcasing the mission, objectives, and impact of the EVB.

Key discussions included: 

• Introduction to EVB mentors: senior academics and industry leaders shared their institutions' commitment to entrepreneurial development.
• The Rationale for EVB: Dr Norah Clarke gave an insightful presentation on the state of entrepreneurship in the region, focusing on challenges such as youth unemployment, resource constraints, and market access that hinder startup scalability.
• EVB Value Proposition: Twum-Darko discussed the experiential learning model that underpins the EVB, ensuring students acquire practical entrepreneurial skills aligned with industry needs.
• The EVB Ecosystem and How to Join: Naidoo emphasised the significance of an ecosystem-based approach, leveraging industry collaborations, venture-based learning, and access to funding to accelerate startup success.

With its innovative structure and strong partnerships, the SA EVB is positioned to create a pipeline of high-growth ventures across Southern Africa. By fostering cross-institutional collaborations, it aims to:

• Identify and support Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) with commercial potential.
• Provide tailored mentorship, training, and financial resources to entrepreneurs.
• Strengthen university-led entrepreneurship ecosystems for long-term sustainability.

Twum-Darko added: “CPUT and its partners are calling on students, alumni, and industry stakeholders to join the EVB ecosystem and contribute to shaping the next generation of technology-driven entrepreneurs.”

For more information about the SA EVB, please visit www.biic.co.za or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Written by CPUT News
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The South African Technology Network (SATN) is proud to announce it has changed its name to the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) as of 1 January 2021.

THENSA CEO, Dr Anshu Padayachee, pronounced that the name change comes after the decision by the SATN Board to reposition and rebrand the SATN as THENSA.  “This was a result of the collective commitment of our member institutions to address the challenges and opportunities that the sector has to respond to,” said Padayachee in a statement.

“Having reviewed our vision, mission, strategic goals and objectives, we believe that we are on course to deliver on the goals we have set out for ourselves over the next five years. At the heart of our model are the values of quality and sustainability in everything that we do. We aspire to be recognised for our technological focus and our capacity for teamwork to ensure that we constantly aim to respond to our local and global challenges.”

SATN was established in 2006 by five South African Universities of Technology (UoTs), namely, CPUT, Durban University of Technology, Central University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology and the Vaal University of Technology, which resulted in the registration of the SATN Trust in August 2008. The SATN became the collective voice of UoTs to provide a common platform for discussion on matters pertaining to higher education, and to share leverage existing competencies of the member intuitions.

THENSA’s mission is to enable its partner institutions to respond to the challenges and targets set in the National Development Plan, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa 2063 Agenda, through Technological Education, Research and Innovation.

THENSA’s guiding principles include connecting minds, establishing networks for collaboration between smart institutions focussed on Technology Research and Innovation with its key focus being the promotion and advancement of Science, Engineering, Arts and Technology Programmes for the world of work. THENSA is the catalyst that capitalises on the collective voice, strengths and opportunities of its members for the benefit of its students, staff, researchers, innovators and its business and industry partners.

Padayachee added: “Our collaboration with business and industry has also added to our strength and credentials. We believe that this change in name is just a formal introduction to the advancements we have made over the years.”

She also stated that their service and excellence shall not change with the name but that the only change that “We endeavour to make shall be towards improvement and development. Making a positive contribution to community wellbeing, education, and the employability of at-risk groups, remain at the top of our priorities.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, the vice-chancellors of the member institutions, our associate members, international partners, and strategic partners for their contributions towards the development and repositioning of the organisation to meet the challenges of the new decade.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Director of Institutional Planning, Louis Mapatagane, has accepted a nomination to serve as the chairperson of the Performance Indicators Task Team of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA).

Mapatagane, who joined CPUT about 14 months ago, said he was excited about the nomination as it strongly aligned to the vision and mission of his department as well as CPUT’s Vision 2030 strategic objective – Smart Engagement and Strong Links with Quintuple Helix Partners.

“This position will also assist with developing and maintaining on-going performance indicator (KPI) and external benchmarking analysis to support and inform the university's strategic objectives. It is indeed an honour, for both the CPUT and myself.”

As the chairperson, Mapatagane will be responsible for collating and compiling the Performance Indicators Profile on an annual basis by THENSA to indicate how the member institutions as a distinct institutional type are performing.

The reports are based on audited institutional data as submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Technology (DHET) under the Higher Education Management Information System.

Part of the responsibilities will involve the Graduation Employability APP. The purpose of the Graduate Employability APP is to gather retrospective feedback from graduates regarding their current employment activities and learning experience across the THENSA member institution.

“This will inform the quality assurance processes of qualifications by providing an overview of the employment status or actual academic articulation of qualifications. In addition, CPUT can draw insights into how university services may be improved by strengthening support to students and graduates.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo is humbled and excited at the same time but ready for the challenge ahead after he was appointed as Deputy Chairperson of Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA), a non-profit company, at the THENSA Board meeting held recently.

THENSA, formerly South African Technology Network (SATN) was established in 2006 by five South African Universities of Technology (UoTs), namely, CPUT, Durban University of Technology, Central University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology and the Vaal University of Technology, and resulted in the registration of the SATN trust in August 2008. The SATN became the collective voice of UoTs to provide a common platform for discussion on matters pertaining to higher education and to share leverage existing competencies of the member institutions. The change of name in 2019 to THENSA) was an outcome of the change in its membership to include all technology focussed institutions, the teaching, learning, research, and innovation agendas that it set itself. 

Following the resignation with immediate effect of former THENSA’s Deputy Chair, Prof Henk de Jager, a vacancy arose at the THENSA. At the  Board meeting it was agreed that the voting for Deputy Chairperson of THENSA will ensue, Nhlapo was nominated and he accepted the nomination as one of  three nominees and he was fittingly appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of THENSA from January 2022.

Reflecting on his appointment, Nhlapo said: “I am sure the confidence and trust that my fellow Vice-Chancellors have in me and the contribution made having been part of formerly SATN and now THENSA did not go unnoticed. This vote of confidence is not taken for granted as it is a major responsibility and an enormous task to champion the cause of UoT in South Africa and the globe.” He said his appointment gives him a platform to reposition and make a strong value proposition for Universities of Technology in the South African National System of Innovation (SANSI). “It gives one a platform to reignite the debate about the role and place of Universities of Technology in the context of the South African higher education landscape,” Nhlapo continued.

“It also gives us, as a collective, an opportunity to reflect deeply about our unique strength in Applied space especially within Fourth Industrial Revolution, Society 5.0 and WIL that really speaks to our DNA as a sector. As CPUT, we believe in the UoTs and our DNA is very clear - hence One Smart CPUT or the dream of being MIT of Africa.”

Nhlapo added: “THENSA is new but I think driving strong collaboration and not unnecessary competition amongst UoTs will take us somewhere. We just need to identify joint projects, joint supervision, joint moderation, and the sky will be the limit. Some of these activities are already happening. Lastly, supporting and learning from the chair and current fellow vice-chancellors.”

He attributed his success to “hard work, respecting one's career and constantly learning from”. “Never stop learning because life never stop teaching.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT in collaboration with Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) recently hosted a workshop, the first of a series of eight workshops spread over 2023, targeted at designing a Deep Tech Venture Builder (VBA), which will be piloted by CPUT in 2024.

The vision is to have the formal launch of the finalised Venture Builder during February 2024. The pilot Venture Builder will be situated at the CPUT Bellville campus. CPUT and THENSA have agreed to collaborate in designing an adapted venture builder model for accelerating technology innovation and commercialisation through the creation of a technology ecosystem that includes top talent, leaders, investors and government all banded together to create a stronger, more innovative, inclusive and successful network.

“The adapted venture builder model will be designed using a participatory process and aims to accelerate innovation through interventions tailored around a set of key drivers of spinoff success. The current phase, for which the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA Fund) funds are required, is directed at developing the Venture Builder structure and formalising partnerships. In effect, this phase is directed at designing and thereby birthing a micro-innovation ecosystem,” said Dr Revel Iyer, Director: Technology Transfer and Industry Linkages. The 40 delegates who attended the workshop were from various higher education institutions including CPUT, Durban University of Technology, University of Venda, Walter Sisulu University, Central University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, and Mangosuthu University of Technology, as well as partner, THENSA and funder, RISA Fund (representative from United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)). There were also delegates from the Department of Science and Innovation, National Intellectual Property Management Office, South African Research and Innovation Management Association, Technology Innovation Agency, City of Cape Town and the Greater Tygerberg Partnership.

In his keynote address, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said: “The approach you are going to learn today involves the design of a venture builder-type vehicle, that marries elements of traditional venture builders and seed accelerators, wherein teams of prospective technopreneurs compete and develop the business case for individual technologies within a supportive learning environment.” Nhlapo said the adapted venture builder model will be designed around a set of key drivers of spin-off success:

• Functional technology innovation.
• Suitably skilled technopreneurial teams.
• Cogent, scalable business models; and
• Acquisition of investment finance.

Reflecting on the workshop, Iyer said: “We achieved our objectives in that we targeted stakeholders from the broader national system of innovation with the view to introducing the concept of the Deep Tech Venture Builder to them with the hope to develop interest and buy-in. The feedback all round was exceedingly positive with a number of stakeholders contacting us with a view to having longer term partnerships in this endeavour.

“We also piloted a participatory approach in developing this new concept. This worked well and was appreciated by the audience.”

Nhlapo said: “We all understand the importance of science, technology and innovation in our day-to-day lives and the ways in which they are transforming the world. Our country has fantastic innovations.”

The VBA model is directed at systematically producing new companies, which will also help grow and support the economy – a key feature of any tech ecosystem.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) yesterday hosted a colloquium aimed at enhancing and strengthening cooperation between its partner universities and partner universities of the German University Consortium for International Cooperations, DHIK.

The DHIK delegation, including consortium chairman, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Leonhard, is also visiting a number of institutions, including CPUT, during this week and opportunities to cooperate in topics like student and staff exchanges, capacity building, joint modules, research cooperation, technology- and knowledge transfer, and entrepreneurship are being explored.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Hon. Buti Manamela, delivered the keynote address at the colloquium, which was held at the Cape Town Marriot Hotel Crystal Towers.

Attendees were welcomed by Prof Chris Nhlapo, CPUT Vice-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Board of THENSA.

Nhlapo said THENSA was privileged to welcome DHIK.

He said THENSA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DHIK to collaborate in a number of areas and chief among them are curriculum development, faculty staff exchange, student exchange research exchange, cooperation and programme coordination, as well as joint fund application.

In his address Manamela noted that South Africa and Germany have a long history of scientific and technological cooperation.

“Opportunities to cooperate in areas, like student and staff exchanges, capacity building, joint modules, research technology and knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship development are sufficient, there's no doubt. This colloquium will provide us with clear ideas on how to enhance the work that is being done under the auspices of THENSA-DHIK.

The event also provided opportunity for group discussions on the various focus areas of collaboration.

THENSA is a representative body for technology-focused higher education institutions in South Africa and Africa and is governed by a Board of Directors, comprising the Vice-Chancellors of its ten member institutions. The DHIK is a consortium of nearly 40 German universities and one from Switzerland.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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