How to persuade free project in elevated instruction

South African government to use funding mechanisms sharply increase production of doctor of science and research at universities. Now smart way should be found to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education, said Professor Ahmed Baw, Vice-Rector Durban University of Technology.

He also argued for university programs to include 'general education' component, including entrepreneurship, for stronger partnerships between universities and local stakeholders to drive entrepreneurial activity, and for more opportunities within universities for students to engage in entrepreneurial activities.

Baw was delivering a keynote address at the South African Technology Network Eighth Annual International Conference on the 2015 "Education for entrepreneurship for economic reconstruction", held in the Science Park in the Vaal University of Technology in the province of Gauteng from 19 to 21 October

South Africa's biggest challenges are the low economic growth, unemployment and inequality, said Baw. But in the villages around the country, people have become dependent on remittances - money sent relatives working in the cities - and it has destroyed the local economy and economic activity, and thus the ability of communities to rise out of poverty.

One lesson is that entrepreneurship is not just about economic growth and jobs, and the production of knowledge and science in universities. "These are very important, but entrepreneurship is on a much wider range of activities. This is primarily a social activity.

"It is about social justice. How can we re-establish the level of mass spirit of entrepreneurship - the ability of people and communities to produce high levels of sustainability. One of the challenges we face as a university is to understand how to communicate in this space."

The role of national governments

Baw described three policy relevant areas that are crucial for advancing entrepreneurship and innovation.

The first is at the national level, and where there is growing awareness of the need for broad-based businesses, as evidenced by the creation of the Department of Small Business Development.

"It is the department doing what needs to be done is another matter. But at least the recognition that the future of the economy depends essentially on the small [business] sector."

While the 'big sectors of the economy is important, there are huge changes taking place that will lead to the erosion of employment. For example, progress on 'machine learning' - the science of getting computers to act without explicit program - means that a lot of work that used to be done by the people will be done by machines in the coming decades.

Therefore, the emphasis must be on small industry, Baw argued.

"The challenge is not about money. It's about culture and social development and new ways of engaging with people. It's also about psychology, about the people saying," Your life is in your hands, it is better to take a grip. "

"I'm not saying that there should be a help, but getting the community who are not involved in entrepreneurship, in business, is a major challenge."

The government should focus on policies that would support this goal - and to rethink policies that were helpful, such as the recent policy of licensing of small businesses, which looked like a good idea, but it is an obstacle to the creation of a business; and Expansion of renewable energy projects that depend on huge investments and deny opportunities for the community.