Economic Activation Manager at University of Venda

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Innovation Management, Economics, or a related field (PhD preferred).
• Minimum of Seven years of experience in entrepreneurship education, innovation management, business incubation, or ecosystem development.

Duties:

• Serve as the primary coordinator and activator of entrepreneurship activities within UNIVEN.
• Develop and implement strategies for fostering a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem that includes students, staff, faculty, industry, and community stakeholders.
• Facilitate alignment between entrepreneurial initiatives, research, industry partnerships, and commercialisation efforts.
• Identify and solicit funding and partnership opportunities to sustain entrepreneurship programmes at the university.
• Lead the implementation of entrepreneurship training initiatives for students, staff, and community members.
• Oversee the integration of entrepreneurship education into undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Coordinate training sessions on sustainable entrepreneurship, digital marketing, e-commerce, branding, and digital entrepreneurship skills development.
• Foster strong collaborations with local, national, and international institutions to enhance UNIVEN’s entrepreneurial visibility and impact.
• Strengthen partnerships with entities for sustainability
• Liaise with faculty executive leadership, industry, and government bodies to advance UNIVEN’s entrepreneurial agenda
• Support and conduct research initiatives that enhance knowledge generation in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Conduct market research and analysis to understand the local business landscape, industry trends, and economic conditions.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on research findings to support strategic planning and decision-making for the campus and local businesses.
• Facilitate data analysis training workshops, including the use of qualitative and quantitative research tools such as ATLAS.
• Promote and co-author high-impact publications in collaboration with international partners.
• Provide consultation to students, staff and community members on business models and sustainable business practices.
• Support various entrepreneurial initiatives such as EDHE Intervarsity, SWEEP (Student Women Entrepreneurship Education Programme), ENACTUS, and the Entrepreneurship Student Ambassador Programme (ESAP).
• Lead the expansion of entrepreneurship education into secondary schools in the Vhembe District.