Walter Sisulu University (WSU) second-year journalism students benefited from an eye-opening entrepreneurial workshop held in East London recently.
Aptly named Starting a Business, the week-long workshop looked aimed to look at whether or not the students’ business ideas had the potential to evolve into a profitable enterprises, and to then equip them the students with the skills needed to translate their ideas into a proper business plan.
Second-year entrepreneurship lecturer Yoliswa Mgedezi said the module was two-pronged, bringing together journalism skills as well as entrepreneurial skills.
“The reality is that unemployment statistics are high in our country and I hope the students will realise the value of having business skills,” Mgedezi said.
The workshop, was facilitated by the National Youth Development Agency (Nyda), was aimed also aims at putting into practice what the students had learnt have learned so far in their entrepreneurial module, she said.
Second-year journalism student Sithembiso Limane said the workshop had been beneficial as it would help students there is a definite benefit from the workshop and it will serve as an “enlightenment” when they covered certain chapters later on in their diplomas.
The students now have a task to apply what they have learnt throughout the week and to pitch a business idea at a later stage.
WSU student Nkosihleli Mfundisi said the application of the theory was in important.
“We have learnt about the process of funding from the Nyda and also the important basics of starting your own business.
“It means when one leaves university, one can be in business and make a living,” Mfundisi said.
