Image: SuppliedThe University of the Western Cape (UWC) played host to the 21st International Entrepreneurship Forum Conference from 18 to 20 September 2025, bringing together global thought leaders, policymakers and academics to explore how education and entrepreneurship can drive inclusive economic growth.
The conference focused on the theme: Education and Entrepreneurship: Ecosystem Value Creation for People, Organisations, and the Environment. The gathering aimed to deepen understanding of entrepreneurship as a complex process of learning - formal, informal, and technological - within supportive ecosystems.
Opening the conference, UWC’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Professor Monwabisi Ralarala, welcomed delegates to a space where innovation met impact. Over three days, keynote speakers and panelists tackled the intersection of education, policy and enterprise.
Dr Ruben Richards, former Director-General of the Scorpions and former Mayor of the Cederberg Municipality, delivered a powerful keynote on the role of local governance in business success. “No business can thrive in a failing municipality,” he said, urging entrepreneurs to engage with local councils and infrastructure planning.
American economist Professor Zoltan Acs, Director of the VIGS Institute in Vienna, challenged delegates to rethink data and urban policy. His keynote, “Ecosystems of Learning: The Urban Divided,” called for better forecasting tools and a deeper understanding of how cities shape entrepreneurial opportunity.
Minister for Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni, delivered a bold critique of funding agencies, calling for reform in loan conditions and greater accessibility for small enterprises. She also highlighted the merger of SEDA, SEFA, and the development bank as a strategic move to streamline support.
Panel sessions explored curriculum design, innovation hubs, mentorship and policy frameworks that enable scalable entrepreneurship. A highlight was the presentation of a newly edited volume by UWC’s Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Professor Michelle Esau, Entrepreneurship Education: A South African Perspective on Supporting Small-Business Development. The book showcases experiential learning models, including UWC’s Small Business Clinic, which connects students with real-world entrepreneurs.
The conference concluded that entrepreneurship education is not just an economic imperative, it’s a tool for social cohesion, inclusion and mobility. By equipping students with critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and exposure to innovation, universities like UWC are helping to shape the future of work and enterprise.
*Prof Iwu is UWC Research Chair in Entrepreneurship in Higher Education
