In a recent engagement at the North-West University (NWU), Dr Gangaram Singh, the esteemed dean of the College of Business and Economics at California State University, imparted invaluable insights on the establishment of a flourishing entrepreneurship ecosystem. As an accomplished academic with extensive expertise in adult education, online learning, and cricket management, Dr Singh’s visit presented a momentous opportunity for the NWU to glean from his wealth of experiences and proficiency in cultivating an environment conducive to entrepreneurship.
Throughout his visit, Dr Singh expounded upon the pivotal elements of California State University’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, elucidating on funding sources, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the sustenance of ventures beyond the ideation stage. His emphasis on customising the entrepreneurship ecosystem to the distinct culture and milieu of each institution, rather than adopting external models, resounded markedly with the NWU’s vision of erecting its own entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Professor Herman van der Merwe, the deputy dean for teaching and learning of the FEMS, underscored the significance of Dr Singh’s visit in furnishing the NWU with an opportunity to adapt his model to the university’s unique milieu. Specifically, Dr Singh’s focus on nurturing collaboration across disciplines and providing support for ventures beyond the ideation stage directly corresponds with the NWU’s objective of engaging students from diverse backgrounds and furnishing comprehensive support for entrepreneurial ventures.
A noteworthy aspect of Dr Singh’s presentation was his insights on the implementation of a practical training programme, known as STEP, which centres on imparting entrepreneurial skills in a format accessible to non-management students. This pragmatic approach to training aligns with the NWU’s initiatives to furnish students with practical entrepreneurship skills and knowledge, further underscoring the harmony of Dr Singh’s insights with the university’s objectives.
The NWU aspires to integrate Dr Singh’s invaluable insights and experiences into their approach, harnessing his expertise to craft a context-specific entrepreneurship ecosystem that will outline a roadmap for fostering a thriving environment for entrepreneurial growth and innovation at the university.
In summation, Dr Gangaram Singh’s visit to the NWU marked a pivotal milestone in the university’s quest to establish a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem. His invaluable insights and experiences have furnished a framework for tailoring the entrepreneurship ecosystem to the unique context of the NWU, laying a promising foundation for the future of entrepreneurship at the university.