The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Entrepreneurship Centre of Excellence known as CUT Entrepreneurship Development Unit (CUT-EDU), is envisaged to bolster the development of resilient entrepreneurs. This was launched on (03/06) and is pursuant with the university’s vision and mission statement.
It is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs with necessary skills and knowledge as well as to offer new and existing entrepreneurs a chance to hone their skills.
The unit will offer post-graduate studies, including MPhil in coursework or research up to a doctoral level in entrepreneurship management and monitoring and evaluation for the 2023 academic year.
The unit will also offer short learning programmes, especially for young people and women to use innovative education and technology in entrepreneurship and other socio-economic development-related fields.
CUT-EDU will equip participants with skills to start and grow businesses and become self-dependent, while producing entrepreneurship consultants, educators, scholars and legislators.
Prof. Alfred Ngowi, CUT acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the significance of the programme will benefit the institution and its participants as well as aiding the Free State working towards promoting wealth creation and equitable wealth distribution for economic transformation.
“The government support has been meaningful to the success of our efforts in conceiving innovative solutions from which our communities stand to benefit. This launch is an example of what we want to achieve with our ideas.
“We believe that this centre will bring the university, government and industry together in planning and investing resources collaboratively to drive the implementation of entrepreneurship education forward in this province,” said Ngowi.
“Our hope is that CUT-EDU will graduate into an entrepreneurial hub which will form one of the corner stones that will fit into CUT’s vision 2030. This is our attempt to contribute towards creating, supporting and developing entrepreneurs to the benefit of creating employment and the growth of the Free State’s economy,” said Prof. Albert Strydom, CUT Dean: Management Sciences.
He said the programmes have been designed to equip participants with skills to start and grow businesses and become self-dependent while producing astute entrepreneurship consultants, educators, scholars and legislators.
Ngowi has welcomed support of the banking sector, Mangaung Business Chamber of Commerce, Black Management Forum, Legislature, and the Free State government.
