Toward an Entrepreneurial University in Southern Africa
A delegation of about twenty representatives from academic institutions and partner ministries in Southern Africa, as well as the international organizations Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) and Obreal, was in Montpellier for a study visit from June 2 to 5. The visit took place as part of the international Uniico-Create consortium, an Erasmus+ project in which the AE2i Chair (Lab Entreprendre, UM Foundation, MOMA) is participating. It provided an opportunity to discuss how to foster an entrepreneurial spirit as a driver of transformation in Southern Africa.
The project was launched on March 24 in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of the European Erasmus+ CBHE program. Coordinated by the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA, South Africa), Uniico-create is a consortium of some 20 partners, including academic institutions in Europe (Ireland, Finland, France) and Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini), as well as international higher education organizations such asOBREAL, SARUA, and SAQA…Not to mention the ministries of education of the relevant member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The goal of Uniico-create is to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in Southern Africa in response to low levels of job creation, startup success, and employability among young graduates.
AtUM, the AE2i Chair—supported by Lab Entreprendre and the UM Foundation in partnership with Montpellier Management—is participating in this international initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between universities and businesses. Led by Professor Sylvie Sammut, the AE2i Chair aims, in particular, to support entrepreneurs in their strategic development and to foster collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders in order to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Stronger Collaborations Between Universities and Businesses
The program for this study visit—organized by the AE2i Chair and theUM Office of International Relations —includes numerous presentations, notably on the university’s flagship programs that highlight its role and involvement in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem: the University Innovation Hub (PUI), Lab Entreprendre, MOMA, the AxLR Technology Transfer Acceleration Company (SATT), the Initium university incubator, and the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Business & Innovation Center (BIC)… These offer plenty of food for thought on ways to strengthen collaboration between universities and businesses for the twenty or so members of the Uniico-Create international delegation.