Pictured: Participants with DUT and JAMK Facilitators

In a thrilling convergence of creativity and intellect, the Durban University of Technology’s’ (DUT) Technology Transfer & Innovation (TTI) Department in collaboration with the innobiz DUT Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, welcomed JAMK University of Applied Sciences to the Durban University of Technology’s Indumiso Campus for an inspiring week dedicated to entrepreneurship and design thinking. Under the expert guidance of Senior Lecturer Mari Hakkarainen from the JAMK Future Factory and Head of the RDI Department, Juha Hautanen, the groundwork was laid for a stimulating intellectual experience—JAMK Innovation Week.

This initiative brought together a vibrant array of participants from different departments of DUT, merging the passionate minds of students and faculty alike. Among the esteemed representatives contributing to discussions were Dr. Pinkie Ntola, Interim Director of TTI Mr. Sundeep Singh, Mr. Solomon Nyamurima, Dr Menzi Mncwango, Dr Thulile Mofokeng, Ms Egashnee Moodley, Ms Dorinda Borg, Ms Nomnikelo Lundall. Their collective insights reinforced the immense value of international collaborations like the one with JAMK University of Applied Sciences.

Day 1: The Spark of Ideas

The inaugural day kicked off with an engaging icebreaker activity, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie among students. Delving deep into the principles of design thinking, the workshop introduced the InnoFlash process—a refined version of the Stanford Design School’s methodology designed for practicality. This was a momentous opportunity for students to learn about how to gather impactful customer insights, adapt innovations to community needs, and tackle pressing challenges facing Durban.

Pictured: Senior Lecturer Mari Hakkarainen from the JAMK Future Factory

Mr. Solomon Nyamurima emphasized, “DUT, celebrating its 21st anniversary, can gain valuable insights from established international partners like JAMK University of Applied Sciences.  JAMK, hailing from a developed economy, offers a wealth of experience in teaching pedagogies, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative methodologies.  This collaboration presents a unique opportunity for DUT to learn and grow.

One key area of potential growth is fostering entrepreneurship.  JAMK’s success in making entrepreneurship a compulsory part of its curriculum demonstrates the power of this approach in developing job creators rather than job seekers.  While DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy mandates an entrepreneurial module for all students, there’s much to learn from JAMK’s implementation.  Their visionary leadership, active engagement of stakeholders including Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and lecturers, and strategic collaborations have been instrumental to their success.

Integrating practical initiatives like DUT’s innobiz with academic learning creates a powerful synergy, bridging the gap between theory and practice.  Over the next three days, participants will focus on the practical application of the InnoFlash methodology, a process aligned with design thinking principles. This training aims to equip students with the tools and skills necessary to develop sustainable, business-oriented solutions to address social challenges, empowering them to create successful entrepreneurial ventures.”

Day 2: Vision in Action

The excitement continued into Day 2, directed by Dr. Thuli Mofokeng, as students engaged in a planning session to craft vision boards—visual representations of their ideas based on the day’s focus on ideation and brainstorming. This exercise emphasized the need for students to develop sustainable solutions to community challenges.

Pictured: DUT Lecturer Dr. Thuli Mofokeng engaging with participants

Dr. Thuli Mofokeng stated that we need to adopt practices from other universities have done to ensure that students are empowered through tools such as Design Thinking and being given an opportunity to implement the ideas that come through that.  “We live in a country that is in desperate need of change and we need creative thinking to assist in SDG’s. We need to ensure that we are a university that is impactful in our society and we can only be impactful if we are producing graduates that are holistic and are there to make a difference in our society. Making a global impact starts with us empowering our students” she further added

Dr. Pinki Ntola noted, “DUT is making notable strides in promoting a culture of entrepreneurship. Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset by embedding entrepreneurship in the curriculum and extracurricular activities is one. We can learn from universities leading in the space and offer programs that integrate entrepreneurship into teaching, research and generally, student life.

DUT can continue working on integrating entrepreneurship education into every study programme, irrespective of the field, to ensure students from diverse backgrounds gain entrepreneurial skills. We can also leverage on the interdisciplinary projects we have in the institution and collaborate on entrepreneurial solutions to solve real life problems.

We are hoping that students will learn to create customer-oriented solutions to the challenges of working life and working with surrounding communities in solving real-life problems. The Innoflash workshop is designed such that students work in teams, this should cultivate teamwork so students are able to work in diverse teams and different learning environments. Students will also learn the basic principles and different stages of the Design Thinking method.”

Day 3: The Art of the Pitch

As the week progressed, Day 3 emerged as a pivotal moment for students, who were challenged to distill their newfound knowledge into concise elevator pitches. They synthesized their experiences and insights from the previous days into presentations that encapsulated their product or service, highlighting its unique value.

Pictured: Participants pitching their solutions

The JAMK facilitators reinforced the importance of embedding entrepreneurial activities into all degree programs, stating, “Not everyone needs to start their own business, but everyone, including staff, should understand what entrepreneurship is and how important it is to society.” They urged DUT to explore the incorporation of entrepreneurship courses across diverse fields of study, as it fosters a sense of responsibility and continuous development.

As students showcased their pitches, the backing of visionary leadership at DUT became evident. Mr. Nyamurima expressed hope that the practical applications of the InnoFlash methodology would empower students to address South Africa’s challenges with innovative, sustainable solutions. “In these 3 days,” he stated, “I am hoping that our students will come out better informed, better equipped, better skilled, and their entrepreneurial ventures will never be a challenge but it will actually be sustainable going forward.”

The JAMK Innovation Week at DUT proved to be more than just a series of workshops, it became a vibrant ecosystem where ideas flourished, collaborations were born, and students stepped boldly into the world of innovation. With a foundation built on design thinking and community engagement, participants left equipped with new skills and the motivation to enact change. This event marked not only a celebration of creativity but a steadfast commitment to making a positive impact within the community and beyond.

Mari Hakkarainen and Juha Hautanen shared that “Entrepreneurial activities should be included in all degrees. Not everyone needs to start their own business, but everyone, including staff, should understand what entrepreneurship is and how important it is to society. An entrepreneurial attitude means taking responsibility for one’s actions, caring for the surrounding society, and continuous development. At JAMK, all students get to take entrepreneurship courses regardless of their degree, and these courses are organized uniformly for everyone. Perhaps DUT could explore whether this would be possible.

Universities must continuously develop their operations. For development, they must be open to various new ideas and ways of working. International cooperation is eye-opening, but it is each university’s task to localize ideas to its own operating environment.

The JAMK Future Factory includes courses on innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and project planning and management. These courses are mandatory for all bachelor-level students and are organized as multidisciplinary implementations. Students learn to work with people from different backgrounds and practically design new products, business ideas, and projects. The assignments come from working life.

DUT is already doing many things right. The design thinking method is used in creating new products, students get to work in teams, and connections with working life are close. Next, it could be considered how to offer studies to a larger number of students.

If entrepreneurship studies are to be integrated as a fixed part, the degree curricula must recognize entrepreneurship studies as part of the degree and have a place for them in the curriculum. Additionally, commitment to entrepreneurship is needed from leaders at all levels.

The students came up with great ideas in a short time. They identified challenges close to their own lives where they can truly make the world a better place step by step. We hope that the solutions designed by the students will be implemented. They can improve both the surrounding society and the university’s operations. Additionally, the participating students gained new skills in using Design Thinking for new designs, new networks and new enthusiasm.”

“The session was mainly focused on design thinking and generating solutions that will help the communities in need. The main aspect of design thinking that stood out to me, which I will be applying to my business, is the part of understanding your customer deeply and gaining insights from them that will lead to better business outcomes. I will definitely apply it to my business since we are dealing with the disability community. I will now make it a point that our business is part of that community to understand our target audience better and come up with suitable mobility solutions for everyone,” Ortega Msomi, an innobiz DUT incubatee, stated.

Noluthando Zuma an innobiz incubate and Durban University of Technology’s SWEEP (Student Economic Empowerment Programme) also added that she was honoured to be part of the JAMK Design Thinking workshop that was hosted by innobiz DUT and TTI. “This workshop was an initiative designed to provide students with the skills and mindset to approach challenges creatively and strategically. Its primary focus was to foster proactive problem-solving abilities. As a SWEEP Executive the Design Thinking assisted me in understanding user perspectives aligns with the goal of supporting women entrepreneurs so that I can better identify their challenges and co-create effective solutions.

JAMK Innovation Week at the Durban University of Technology has undoubtedly set a new precedent for collaborative learning and entrepreneurial growth. By engaging students in hands-on workshops and fostering a culture of design thinking, the event empowered participants to harness their creativity and develop practical solutions that address real-world challenges. The involvement of key faculty members and international partners underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping future innovators.

The insights shared by attendees highlight the transformative potential of embedding entrepreneurial education throughout the curriculum, preparing graduates not only as job seekers but as proactive job creators. The enthusiasm and commitment displayed by students throughout the week signal a bright future for entrepreneurship at Durban University of Technology. As students take these lessons into their communities, the ripple effect of their innovations promises to enhance local development and contribute positively to broader societal challenges.

By embracing this spirit of innovation and collaboration, DUT stands poised to make significant strides in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

Photographer: Khonzinkosi Magcaba

Sindiswa Khuzwayo