Centre for Entrepreneurship

The centre for entrepreneurship at the WBS aligns itself with the Wits Vision 2022 Strategic Framework which positions Wits as an internationally leading research-intensive university located in Africa. The University of the Witwatersrand is a research-intensive university located in the heart of Johannesburg, a dynamic, metropolitan, world class African city. The Vision 2022 Strategic Framework lays the foundation for Wits that is a leader in research, teaching and innovation internationally in a number of key priority fields of global importance, but without neglecting our strategic role as leader in a local and regional context. The cfe is situated at a post-graduate school with a focus on quality education and research, consequently generating knowledge and capacity in this new field. By focusing on its core competencies the cfe through its activities will allow for the concept of higher-level entrepreneurial knowledge and facilitation to evolve and provide a forum for broad interaction.

Recognising this vision the cfe strives to provide intellectual leadership through contributions to research, curriculum development, teaching, and outreach initiatives. The Cfe is supported through a complete educational infrastructure consisting of the Chair in Entrepreneurship, a Masters in Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, various elective modules for the MBA track in Entrepreneurship, PDM entrepreneurship modules, various short courses offered through executive education, and other academic institutions in South Africa and abroad. The chair provides support to the Cfe in terms of conceptualising research, projects, course development, conferences, seminars, and teaching inputs.

One of the main focus areas of the cfe is conducting independent and leading research in entrepreneurship. Commitment to discovering new knowledge and finding ways to use that knowledge to the benefit of the entrepreneurship community is its primary agenda.
Research-supported development of entrepreneurship based on a collaboration with the entrepreneurial scholarly community and thought leaders from various organisations will allow for significant advances to be made in this evolving field, particularly in teaching methodologies (e.g. programmes and case studies), where research is used to generate knowledge on entrepreneurship and to develop tutorial material and skills, thereby improving the quality and impact of courses offered.

Rigorous research will allow better understanding of the entrepreneurial process, public policy initiatives and educational issues associated with entrepreneurship. This means that good research always has practioner application and policy implications.

The Cfe maintains its focus on core issues with teaching and training, where entrepreneurship is at the centre and not peripheral or side issue. Build on existing core competencies and consolidating efforts from both academia and practioners, quality high-impact programmes are offered.

The cfe is part of a series of interconnected activities within the themed research entrepreneurship programme, led by the Chair in Entrepreneurship, Professor Boris Urban in collaboration with other Wits and WBS academic staff, and international colleagues. The following research outputs are targeted: Research publications - accredited journal articles (ISI and DOE publications), SMME reports, conference proceedings and working papers. Research results are presented and discussed at working sessions, colloquiums and conferences. Written products (e.g., accredited articles, research notes, commissioned project reports, working papers, case studies) are delivered to associations and sponsors regularly and accessible to all in an online knowledge repository.
The cfe has in past successfully attracted donor funds and continues to draw resources to be applied to workshops, research, conferences, seminars, and publications, as well as, the marketing of the entrepreneurial programmes and sponsorship of students to various short programmes.

The cfe is involved in several outreach initiatives that include third party engagements as well as student involvement in experiential projects, mentoring, and teaching by students to nascent entrepreneurs.