CUT, in collaboration with the University’s partners from government, business and industry, launched its Strategy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from 22 to 24 February 2016 – five years after the adoption of its Vision 2020, which states that: “By 2020, Central University of Technology, Free State shall be an engaged university that focuses on producing quality social and technological innovations for socio-economic development, primarily in the Central region of South Africa”. 

When Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of CUT, officially opened the launch, he stated that innovation and entrepreneurship education has become a movement amongst universities of technology (UoTs) that, in time, will turn more of our students from job seekers into wealth creators for our city and region. “We have not only researched this field, and shared our thoughts and strategies within the sector, but we have taken the lead to implement various aspects while developing our strategy”, Prof. Mthembu said. He encouraged CUT students to be creative, and informed them that, if everyone in South Africa could focus on innovation and growing the economy, challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality would disappear. 

He also challenged the students to become pioneers, keeping ahead of everyone; learning more techniques from the rest of the world; and taking the opportunity to lead the country to greater heights, as they are fully equipped with the skills to do so. Prof. Seema Ramakrishna, a keynote speaker from the National University of Singapore (NUS), commended the University for undertaking such an important journey, which he led 15 years ago.  “This launch of innovation and entrepreneurship is an important occasion for CUT, as you are embarking on a critical path envisioned by Prof. Mthembu”.  He urged the CUT community to be active in creating global networks. “This event provides us with the opportunity to consolidate our ideas for social and technological innovation. It also represents a radical approach towards the higher education sector, with the potential to help us make further advances in our Strategic Transformation of Educational Programmes and Structures (STEPS) programme”, said Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at CUT. Through the STEPS project, the University has revamped its courses into market-focused academic programmes – a major contribution to the achievement of one of the goals of Vision 2020, which focuses on shaping the academic future and ensuring high-quality, niche-focused teaching and learning for the socio-economic development of the Central region. 

Different activities for staff, students and partners were presented during the launch, and both participants and speakers addressed collaboration and the role of universities in driving the socio-economic development agenda in their respective regions. Other presenters on the day who shared their experience included Mr Patrick Krappie, Head of Stakeholders and Communications at the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA);  Dr Leone Hermans-Blackburn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CUT Innovation Services (CUTIS); Ms Hlungwani, member of the student organisation Enactus; Ms Gadija Brown, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA); and Prof. Dennis Dzansi, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Management Sciences at CUT.   

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Group: Prof. Henk De Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, and Engagement; Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at CUT; Prof. Seema Ramakrishna from National University of Singapore; Prof. Alfred  Ngowi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology; Mr Patrick Krappie, Head of Stakeholder relations and Communications from Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); Prof. A Akindahunsi from University of Benin; Prof. Dennis Dzansi, Associate Professor: Project Management and  Prof. Ryk Lues, from the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences.