Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Vision
Our vision is to develop and grow entrepreneurial thinking and acting within all disciplines across campus, the city and nation.Mission
The University of the Western Cape’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) exists to consolidate, coordinate and synergise entrepreneurship activities at UWC in order to:- Highlight the successes of UWC more prominently with respect to current and future entrepreneurship-related activities
- Fulfill a coordinating role for the current and new entrepreneurship related activities at UWC and external stakeholders
- Fundraise and develop a long-term sustainable financial model for the Centre by developing projects in entrepreneurship
- Provide the environment with a fellowship of support to new and existing entrepreneurs
- Collaborate with national and international partners active in the area of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship development
Publications
- Humans of the CEI - Student Publication 2020
- Humans of the CEI - Student Publication 2019
- Humans of the CEI - Student Publication 2018
- Humans of the CEI - Student Publication 2017
Contact Details
Physical address
Centre for Entrepreneurship and InnovationBusiness Innovation Building
University of the Western Cape
Robert Sobukwe Road
Bellville
Tel: +27 21 959 9551
Team
Abraham OliverPosition: Director
Biography:
Mr Abraham Oliver is the Director at the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), University of the Western Cape.
Abraham is an incubator and Growthwheel specialist. He is further an experienced and professional SME practitioner both in the art and science of entrepreneurship.
His experience spans over more than 25 years both in academia and SMME business modeling support.
He was co-builder of False Bay College Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator (CFERI) for 6 years. He pioneered and designed both learning programmes and Mentoring & Business Advisory Support programmes for CFERI.
He further was part of a team that presented a framework for Service-Learning Model at HAN University in Holland.
Abe coordinated an International Dialogue program between TSiBA and North Eastern University (USA) in Boston for five years. Abe participated in a four-week Oklahoma State University (OSU) Professional Fellowship Program funded by the US Department of State.
Abe completed his Master’s in Development Studies (2016) at UWC. His Thesis focused on Social Entrepreneurship & Service-Learning approach to develop community small businesses. BEcon degree; BEcon (Hons) degree with focus on Business Management and Higher Diploma in Education (HDE) from University of Western Cape and Higher Diploma in Higher Education and Training (HDHET) from CPUT.
Abe is accredited Assessor & Moderator. W&R Seta qualifications in Informal Small Business Practice. Abe is also a certified Growth Wheel Advisor. He is further an assessor and moderator as well as accredited assessor to design & develop outcomes-based assessments plus learning programmes (ETDP_SETA).
Email: aoliver@uwc.ac.za
Wendy Mehl
Position: Enterprise Development and SMME Coordinator
Email: wmehl@uwc.ac.za
vacant
Position: Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Visit the Centre for Entrepreneurship
The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has a number of programmes for students from any faculty to develop an entrepreneurial mindset toward either becoming entrepreneurs who run their own businesses or intrapreneurs who work innovatively within a company or other organisation.
The main student programmes include:
The main student programmes include:
- Design Sprints for developing new business ideas
- Startup Sprints where ideas are further developed into viable business models
- Grow Your Business to accelerate existing early-stage businesses
- Enactus for Social Entrepreneurs to advance the sustainable development goals
- Virtual Internships is an opportunity for real work experience with global start-ups and companies
- EDHE Intervarsity is an annual pitching competition involving all 26 universities across South Africa
- WearSA Fashion Incubator is an opportunity for students with businesses within the fashion industry to develop vital industry-related skills
The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has been actively involved in training over a thousand private sector business owners to date who would not be able to access the student entrepreneurship programmes.
The main programmes include:
The main programmes include:
- eSkills Programme (NQF Level 5) is an accredited short course aimed at supporting SMMEs in their use of mobile technology to effectively run and grow their businesses.
- The Fellowship Programme is for the entrepreneurs who successfully completed the eSkills programme to further engage in networking opportunities and to enhance their skills through knowledge and peer to peer learning.
