Participants will acquire an understanding of critical practices in entrepreneurship in a university context through the application of venturing principles and other closely related concepts. The course emphasizes the importance of an entrepreneurial mind-set. As a mindset, entrepreneurship has assumed a unique position globally because of its empowering and transformational potential. Participants will be exposed to evidence-based research to gain insight into entrepreneurial and research commercialisation processes. The entrepreneurial process will be navigated practically in order to develop competencies required at each phase of the post-graduate journey, which includes leveraging resources and improving networking skills. The course also has motivational value where participants will identify sources of entrepreneurial research opportunity and design a road map to act innovatively.

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

1. Determine critical practices in research and innovation in a university context 
2. Identify and describe key activities necessary to conduct and advance innovation or research 
3. Identify sources of research opportunity and design an action road map 
4. Apply the entrepreneurial process in relation to research and innovation 
5. Critically Assess the relevance of an entrepreneurial orientation in a university setting 
6. Develop an entrepreneurial mind-set and adopt entrepreneurial behaviour 
7. Engage in ‘learning by doing’ activities through presenting to a panel 
8. Critically apply entrepreneurship principles to improve research productivity 

The course has been specifically developed for students at the postgraduate diploma level or NQF level 7 as a short program i.e., to be delivered within a 12-Week period. The course comprises 8 chronological and incrementally conceptualised modules that all students should take part in and complete, to be able to gain eligibility for the certificate of attendance that will be provided by the Durban University of Technology Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate. Details of course include: –

Coursework 1:   Personal and Environmental Entrepreneurial dynamics within Research and Innovation.

Coursework 2:   The individual entrepreneur: A focus on research and innovation tools

Coursework 3:   Entrepreneurial opportunities and resource management within research contexts

Coursework 4:   Building Your Enterprise Through Networks

Coursework 5:   Techniques of Transforming University Academic Research into Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Coursework 6:   Functional Areas of Your Enterprise [Marketing, Operations and Finance]

Coursework 7:   Technological development from academic entrepreneurship and innovation.

Coursework 8:   Social Entrepreneurship: Building Enterprises for Social Change

The design of this online short course is guided by the Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

A hybrid assessment protocol that includes both formative and summative assessments will be used. This will comprise of

• Weekly individual and group exercises and tasks
• Group and individual assignments
• Open and closed bookcase study integrative assessments and a summative capstone assignment.

To complete the short learning programme successfully, and be awarded a certificate, learners must be found competent in all aspects of the summative assessment.

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the course, as per the stipulated requirements.