Background
South Africa country faces a critical gap in preparing graduates to meet ongoing challenges, such as rapid technological advancements, evolving industry demands, and the increasing need for innovative, intrepreneurial mindsets. South Africa is often criticised for lacking experiential learning within the entrepreneurial curriculum.
This results in failing to adequately equip learners with the entrepreneurial skills and practical experience required in a dynamic and uncertain job markets The youth unemployment in South Africa underscores this issue, with the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15–24 standing at 59.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 (Stats SA). This highlights the urgent need for education and training systems to better align with market demands. Globally, entrepreneurship is regarded as main contributor to long term economic growth, job creation and solving socio-economic challenges, yet within the South African context, this has not reached its full potential.
The International Labour Organisation (2020) report that small and medium-sized businesses are the main job creators in both developed and developing countries, South Africa therefore must align with this and be prepared in investing heavily in skillsbased training, especially within the higher education sector to grow and develop future entrepreneurs.
Aims
The aim of AFJ project is to enhance the employability and entrepreneurial skills of graduates in entrepreneurship, business management, accounting, marketing and agriculture by building the capacity of educators within South African higher education institutions (HEIs) to provide education aligned with labour market demands.
Specific objectives are:
- Equip Higher Education educators and lectures with the necessary skills, practical teaching tools and methods to introduce and consolidate the development of students’ entrepreneurial skills and spirit
- Promote Work-Integrated Learning in Entrepreneurship Education in South Africans’ higher education programmes and lessons and supporting the establishing of stronger partnerships with businesses
- Provide the staff working in the Career Centers with skills, competences and operative guidance tools for enhancing the effectiveness of their support to students and future graduates in finding better jobs and in developing their own businesses
- Business Incubator Package to guide students in creating business plans, setting up start-ups, and sustaining entrepreneurial ventures
Target Groups
The project is addressed to south African higher education lecturers, South African Career Center Staff and Students in business management, economics, and marketing
Activities
In order to pursue the objectives, the project through a capacity building process involving South African and European HEIs will achieve the following results:
- Lecturers and career centers from South African Higher Education institutions involved and benefiting from the participation in transnational and national workshop to build their skills and competences
- Availability of a set of guidance and operative tools adapted to South African needs.
- Teaching tools such as role-playing, case studies, and startup pitch simulations to promote students entrepreneurial spirit
- Guidelines for incorporating entrepreneurial oriented education
- Guidelines for incorporating WIL into curricula
- Toolkit to develop collaborations between HEIs and businesses.
- Validated operational tools and guidelines for Career Centers to provide sustain students employability and for fostering self-employment opportunities
