Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa
Navigate this Page
What You Need to Know
The program is a life-changing experience, where students help and learn from disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Black townships near Cape Town, South Africa. With faculty guidence, students form consulting teams and work with small businesses over six weeks to help make the ventures sustainable. They work closely with entrepreneurs based in the townships. These special individuals have managed to overcome a history of apartheid, limited education, and severely constrained resources to create small enterprises. Their ventures range from catering and arts & crafts businesses to community newspapers and small manufacturing operations.
The student consulting teams are expected to identify and prioritize the key needs of the entrepreneur, and make meaningful progress in addressing some of the priority needs. The focus is less on analysis and more on producing tangible deliverables that the entrepreneur can use. Students develop marketing and financing plans, improved operating approaches, new bookkeeping systems, better approaches to dealing with employees, suppliers, and distributors, and creative solutions in a range of other areas. While gaining practical experience and a rich cultural exposure, students make an important contribution in the townships, to the entrepreneurs, and within the new South Africa. Stellenbosch University, which is in the heart of the fabulous wine country of South Africa, is the host location for the program.
To take another look at this program, please visit the Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa website:
Take Another Look at the Program
Students must enroll in both courses, which are taken in parallel. One is in the classroom and the other is in the field.
Supporting Emerging Enterprises
(EEE, 400/600/IRP 400/600, 3 credits, graduate or undergraduate)
This course introduces students to the South African context, township entrepreneurship, the basics of the consulting process, the SEE consulting model, and creative yet practical approaches to addressing managerial issues in emerging enterprises. It is offered at the Stellenbosch University campus.
Entrepreneurship Field Experience
(EEE, 490/690/IRP 490/690, 3 credits, graduate or undergraduate)
This course provides interaction with township entrepreneurs over six weeks as part of structured consulting engagements.
The consulting engagements start at the same time as the class meetings. Teams of three to four students are assigned to work on two projects each. Team members must develop a relationship with the entrepreneur, establish trust, learn as much as possible about the entrepreneur and his/her venture, determine priorities, select tasks that can be accomplished within the time of the consulting engagement, perform the necessary research and analysis on possible solutions to these tasks, and design detailed solutions and related action plans. There is heavy interaction and mentoring of the teams by the three faculty members involved in the program. A final consulting project report summarizes the teams assessment of each venture and the set of deliverables produced for the clients. Students must also maintain journals of their experiences.
The program is only open to graduate and upper level undergraduate students with a 3.0 grade point average or better. A background in business administration is not required, and students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Several of the projects have components that would be appropriate for students with backgrounds in social work, sustainable development, economics, international relations and African studies. The key requirements are personal maturity and responsibility, a high energy level and enjoyment of hard work, a willingness to learn, and a desire to make a difference. Only 15 students can be accommodated in the program and students interested in participating are encouraged to submit their applications early.
Mr. Larry Bennett is the Whitman Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice at Syracuse University. He has been a principal in a number of entrepreneurial ventures and has been an executive in larger organizations. Professor Bennett is serving as the Acting Director of the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, and has run the student incubator, the entrepreneurial mentors program, and the entrepreneurship learning communit
Dr. Craig Watters is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice and works with Whitman’s highly visible South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project, advising teams of undergraduates and MBAs as they held small business owners and minority entrepreneurs to grow their ventures. He also serves as an advisor and mentor to the on-campus undergraduate learning community.
This program is relevant to all upper level undergraduate students and graduate students regardless of major. It is not limited to business majors, and so those studying sociology, engineering, information studies, architecture, economics, political science, government, social work, and other fields are welcome. The key requirements are a strong work ethic, emotional maturity and a desire to make a difference. All students applying to the program will be interviewed by a faculty committee.
Students who apply for this program will be required to complete
EESA Supplemental Application Form
Students arrange and pay for their own round-trip transatlantic transportation to Cape Town. The dates for the 2010 program are still pending due to World Cup scheduling. Many previous participants recommend staying an extra week to travel in South Africa and/or Southern Africa. Transport from the Cape Town International Airport to Stellenbosch University will be arranged for you.
Advantage Travel specializes in student fares and can assist with flight arrangements for your summer program. For more information, please contact Sally Curtis at scurtis@advantagecny.com or 1-800-788-1980.
Please note that while we encourage students to pursue flight arrangements, we would not encourage you to purchase your airline tickets before confirming that the program and courses you plan to take will be offered in 2010. Please request written notification from us that you can book your flight. You will have to present this notification if we cancel the program at a later date, and you want to be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket.
Housing will be arranged in University residence halls or a communal house.
| Arrive in Cape Town: | June 7, 2010 |
| Housing begins: | June 7, 2010 |
| Program begins: | June 7, 2010 |
| Program ends: | July 16, 2010 |
| Housing ends: | July 17, 2010 |
| Application deadline: | April 1 |
| UNDERGRADUATE (6 credits) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,592 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | $2,125 (2009 rate) |
| Total | TBD |
| GRADUATE (6 credits) | |
| Tuition | $6,978 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | $2,125 (2009 rate) |
| Total | TBD |
Please note: All costs are estimated and subject to change.
Additional Financial Information: We estimate that students should budget accordingly for the following expenses:
Air travel: $2,200
Books & Supplies: $100
Personal: $500
Meals: $900
These figures are for expenses not covered in the tuition or program fee and are paid out-of-pocket.