EDHE Economic Activation Offices – The connector of entrepreneurship in Universities
Established in 2021, the EDHE Economic Activation Offices (EAOs) are designed to serve as epicentres for connecting entrepreneurship-related entities and activities, and fostering entrepreneurship within universities. They are entrusted with catalysing support, facilitating collaboration, and seamlessly exchanging information across the broader university community. The EAOs are positioned to operate as conduits, connecting and aligning a diverse spectrum of stakeholders – from executive leadership and faculty, to support staff and students, to local business and industry – to cultivate and nurture the entrepreneurship ecosystem within the institutions.
The aim is to establish a connection point for university entrepreneurship to deepen and broaden the engagement of faculty, centres for entrepreneurship, incubators, student affairs, technology transfer offices, science parks, internationalisation and other entities that support the research-innovation-entrepreneurship-commercialisation value chain.
A key enabler of this initiative is the strategic partnership with Standard Bank SA. Their renewed commitment through additional funding underscores the significance of private-sector collaboration in propelling entrepreneurship, economic participation of youth, and fostering sustainable economic growth.
SPU has an established EAO designed specifically to meet these purposes and ensure a central point of contact exists for the further development of entrepreneurs and ensuring an entrepreneurship mindset is established and strengthened both internally and externally. The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDAR) houses the EAO as part of its objective of enterprise development.
SPU SWEEP Chapter
The Student Women Economic Empowerment Project (SWEEP) is a project, which serves a special purpose aimed at equipping student women for entrepreneurial activity in the context of the under-representation of student women in entrepreneurship.
SPU is a part of the SWEEP initiative and has formed a Chapter on campus to assist female studentpreneur and aspiring studentpreneur women on our campus.
Join our chapter by signing up today, contact Mr Chad Lucas at chad.lucas@spu.ac.za.
SPU SWEEP Chapter goes to London
EAO Mr Lucas who serves as SPU SWEEP Coordinator and student Ms. Lethabo Mmuiemang SPU SWEEP Chapter President represented SPU in the British Council/SWEEP UK Exchange Program aimed at empowering student women entrepreneurs and their mentors in furthering the SWEEP effort through international exchange and knowledge transfer.
EDHE SPU Studentpreneur Community of Practice
SPU has established an internal Community of Practice (CoP) known as the SPU Studentpreneur Community of Practice (SCP). The purpose and role of this CoP is to:
- Share relevant knowledge, resources and best practice;
- Transfer practical skills;
- Influence policy;
- Be the student voice on entrepreneurial support needed;
- Assist with coordination of entrepreneurial efforts at SPU;
- Support and promote national EDHE projects regionally and locally; and
- Determine success indicators for EDHE
The SCP is a registered student society on campus. To join, and for more information; kindly contact chad.lucas@spu.ac.za.
SPU SWEEP Chapter Strengthens Entrepreneurship Leadership at National SWEEP Workshop
The Sol Plaatje University (SPU) SWEEP Chapter, led by Coordinator Dr Gail Motlhaudi-Banda and Mr Chad Lucas, accompanied by its Student Executive Committee (Ms Zanele Matole, Ms Shu-Rayda Engelbrecht, Ms Onaka Mshuqwana, Ms Neo Tapala, Ms Phethile Gonondo, Ms Abulele Qabo and Ms Ntebogeng Mabula), participated in the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) National Workshop, held from 13–15 July 2026. The three-day workshop brought together SWEEP Chapters from universities across South Africa to strengthen entrepreneurship education, foster collaboration, and share best practices in developing entrepreneurial mindsets among students. Hosted under the auspices of Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), Universities South Africa (USAf), with support from the British Council and TransformHER, the programme featured keynote addresses, masterclasses, Living Lab activities, academic forums, and practical skills workshops facilitated by leading academics, entrepreneurship practitioners, and industry partners. Sessions focused on entrepreneurial leadership, enterprise development, innovation, resilience, communication, financial literacy, sustainability, and value-based planning, while providing valuable networking opportunities for both coordinators and student leaders.
The workshop reaffirmed the critical role of higher education institutions in cultivating entrepreneurial graduates who are equipped to create sustainable economic opportunities within their communities. For the SPU delegation, the experience provided new insights, strengthened partnerships with peer institutions, and generated practical strategies that will be integrated into the activities of the SPU SWEEP Chapter. Participation in the national workshop reflects the University’s ongoing commitment, through the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDAR), to advancing entrepreneurship education and empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and innovation-driven economy. The SPU SWEEP Chapter looks forward to implementing the lessons learned and continuing to contribute to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem both on campus and across the Northern Cape.
We would like to recognize and celebrate our key partners that assist the EAO and CEDAR in realizing the entrepreneurial efforts at the institution.
The EDHE has supported SPU through the CoP support provided by being a aligned to the EDHE programmes and structures. The key sponsorship and support of Standard Bank to the EDHE has further allowed for resources to be available to the EAO and CEDAR at SPU to meet its objective of developing enterprises and entrepreneurs within the Northern Cape Province that can be active economic participants in the strive to decrease the effects of high youth unemployment rates through job creation and sustainability.
Further support internally has been received from senior management as entrepreneurship and innovation form part of the strategic goals of the institution; ensuring top management buy-in and support of this crucial effort within higher education.
ENACTUS project Farmily wins R12 000
Farmily is an urban farming project aimed at empowering homeowners to contribute towards greener farming while leveraging their backyards for food production. This is a cost-effective method employing greywater systems and recycling to ensure sustainability and more affordable vegetables for students to consume. The project team entered the Ford challenge and made it to the Top 5 nationally, earning them a R12 000 cash prize.
These students are mentored by the EAO who has regular contact sessions with them. Both students are within the Natural and Applied Sciences Faculty; highlighting the cross-disciplinary function of the EAO.
SPU students make Top5 YAEI X ABSA Entrepreneurship Tour
The Youth African Entrepreneurship Institute (YAEI) and www.absa.co.za undertook an entrepreneurship tour of each province. SPU hosted the Northern Cape edition. Part of the programme was a pitching competition open to students and community youth within the province.
Two students out of a group of over 30 registered pitchers won top 5 positions to earn their spots to compete in the top30 pitchers in the country.
Mr Chad Lucas
Economic Activation Officer
Email: chad.lucas@spu.ac.za
Tel: 053 491 0000
EMS Building, 3rd Floor
Office number: 301-306
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