Ms Gail Motlhaudi, a lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at SPU, recently represented our Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDAR) at the 24th Annual Experiential Classroom Conference at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. The conference is globally renowned for fostering entrepreneurship education, aligning with SPU’s strategic focus on entrepreneurship as a niche programme offering.
At the conference, Ms Motlhaudi collaborated with colleagues from Florida and Texas on a case teaching presentation, which earned them the ‘Outstanding Case Teaching Award’ from Professor Michael Morris, a noted expert in entrepreneurship and social innovation at the University of Notre Dame. This accolade reflects not only her individual excellence but also SPU’s dedication to advancing entrepreneurial learning.
“I am thrilled by this achievement, which highlights the strides we are making at CEDAR, the EMS, and SPU. This award is especially timely, as we prepare to introduce Entrepreneurship Orientation to all SPU first-year students in 2025 as part of the SCOR module. I’ve been championing this project, and we began piloting it with our current EMS first-year students in the second semester of 2024. The future looks bright for entrepreneurship development at SPU,” said Ms Motlhaudi.
Ms Motlhaudi expressed her gratitude for the support from SPU and Prof Morris, highlighting that CEDAR intends to collaborate with him on future projects aimed at advancing entrepreneurial solutions. These collaborations are poised to strengthen SPU’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, enhancing its entrepreneurship offering and further solidifying the University’s position as a leader in this niche area. Such partnerships will enable SPU to expand its impact on entrepreneurial research and development, driving innovation and socio-economic growth in the Northern Cape and beyond.
Launched in 2022, CEDAR aims to create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem to positively impact the Northern Cape economy, with a focus on entrepreneurship pedagogy, development, and research. Ms Motlhaudi’s work at CEDAR exemplifies this commitment, as she has demonstrated a passion for entrepreneurship education throughout her tenure at SPU. The SPU community congratulates Ms Motlhaudi on her prestigious international achievement.
