Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen

Academic Leader: Management and Entrepreneurship Discipline @ukzn and Founder at South African National Chairperson @EDHEStudents

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Incredible energy at the @BritishCouncil Innovation for African Universities Kick-Off 🌍 Student innovators from NMU, UniZulu and Wits pitched bold solutions while delegates co-created the future of our South African Community of Practice. Just getting started ✨
#Africa2063

[University of KwaZulu-Natal @UKZN]

Celebrating Excellence in Global Business! 🌍📈

Three of our School of Commerce Honours students excelled in a competitive global business simulation during a guest lecture by Ms Tasleem Shaik, Director of the Global Business Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

A huge congratulations to:
🥇 Phakamile Zungu
🥈 Ayabonga Ngcobo
🥉 Siphesihle Dlamini

Thank you to Ms Shaik for an inspiring, industry-grounded session, and to our module coordinator and lecturer, Prof Thea van der Westhuizen, together with Dr Michelle Hatch, Academic Leader for Teaching & Learning, for championing experiential and real-world learning opportunities for our students.

#UKZN #SchoolOfCommerce #GlobalBusiness #ExperientialLearning #StudentSuccess #BoldFuture

[University of KwaZulu-Natal @UKZN]

The Innovation for African Universities (IAU) Community of Practice (CoP) hosted its inaugural Leaders Symposium and Workshop in KwaZulu-Natal, bringing together university leaders, educators, and innovation partners for a landmark event aimed at accelerating transformation in Higher Education.

Read more: https://t.co/vkHhMOahts

#UKZN #InspiringGreatness #Inspired2032

[University of KwaZulu-Natal @UKZN]

🚀 Entries are now open for the EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge!

Got a bold idea that could change your community, industry, or the world? This is your chance to make an impact! ✨

The EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge 2025 is more than just a competition—it's a platform for shaping the future by empowering innovators to solve real-world challenges.

🔹 20 national finalists will be selected to attend an intensive development bootcamp, leading up to the national finals on 19 November 2025.
🔹 The top 5 innovators will receive seed funding, mentorship, incubation, and direct access to investors and partners.

🏆 The overall winner will take home R500,000 in cash!

🔹 Innovation from any sector is welcome, as long as it’s original, impactful, and feasible.

💰 R1.05 million in cash prizes are up for grabs:
• 1st Prize: R500,000
• 2nd Prize: R250,000
• 3rd Prize: R150,000
• 4th Prize: R100,000
• 5th Prize: R50,000

Read more: https://t.co/EP02FExSa3
Apply now: https://t.co/EP02FExSa3

Let’s drive change. Let’s innovate for impact.

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and alumni (graduated 2023-2025).

#UKZN #InspiringGreatness #Inspired2032

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

NEXT-GENERATION SOLAR MANUFACTURING PROJECT TO PROMOTESUSTAINABLE ENERGY https://t.co/h8Bb5shVYv

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

UKZN collaborating to produce next-gen solar energy https://t.co/wmssK8jobn via @KZN Industrial & Business News
@UKZN

[University of KwaZulu-Natal @UKZN]

It was an honour for @Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen💯, Academic Leader for High Impact Community Engagement and Internationalisation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Management, IT and Governance, to deliver a keynote at the Going Global Regional Conference 2024 (link: https://t.co/BuoHYLSt8X ), organised by British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

The session, titled "Preparing Young People for the Evolving World of Work: Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise Development," explored practical strategies to help young people thrive in an ever-changing global and African job market. Prof. van der Westhuizen was joined by a distinguished panel of experts, including Mr. Simelisizwe Sibanda, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology in Zimbabwe; Andrew Bird, Vice Chair of HEAG at Solent University, Southampton; and Dr. Ayansola Ayandibu, Senior Lecturer at the University of Zululand.

The session covered important topics such as fostering entrepreneurial thinking, promoting innovation in career development, and sharing best practices for building sustainable enterprises. Attendees left with actionable strategies and valuable insights to apply in their own contexts, paving the way for greater collaboration and success in supporting young people in their careers.

#GoingGlobalAfrica #YouthEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #EnterpriseDevelopment #Employability #Innovation #Africa #HigherEducation #BritishCouncil @Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen💯

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Looking forward to the @EDHEOffical Awards event today showcasing excellence in #entrepreneurship and #innovation within the South African Higher Education space 🎉🎉🎉
@UKZN

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Looking forward to support the AABLA Awards tonight #AABLA2024 @cnbcafrica @AABLAwards

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Graduation Day is always a highlight of the year! 🎓 Huge congratulations to my PhD candidate, now Dr Tebogo Mojafi, for his thesis on Developing a Management Framework to Position South Africa as Preferred Seafarer Labour Supplier. Onwards and upwards! 🚢 #MaritimeInnovation

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

If you were part of the British Council IAU programme from 2022 to 2024, join us on Sept 11th, 2024 for the IAU Community of Practice Launch. Opportunity to learn more about the network and collaborations.
@BritishCouncil
@PaulAc0359 @Meeky_Lunga
#IAU2024
#IAU
#unitetogrow

[CNBC Africa @cnbcafrica]

@FifiPeters @MastercardFdn @StellenboschUni @UKZN @wemabank @Stan_du_Plessis @theavander @nyimpinimabunda

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Join us for the Future of Education Summit unpacking the topic “Building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable education ecosystem. Bringing the corporate sector into curriculum design and delivery. #FOE2024 @cnbcafrica. Register here: https://t.co/ToBRn7JgBZ

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

EDHE Awards open! Submit by 15 July 2024: https://t.co/jDB0tkMwSl

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Youth Entrepreneurship: An Ecosystem Theory for Young Entrepreneurs in South Africa and Beyond - https://t.co/hMN9fiTlIz #ScholarAlerts

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

Looking forward to the Entrepreneurship is a Career Day hosted by @UKZN College of Law & Management Studies as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 🎓

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

The summit, centered around the theme "Upskilling: Accelerating Relevance in Sub-Saharan Africa", will be streamed live tomorrow, Wednesday, July 5th, from 10:00 to 15:30 CAT on @cnbcafrica (Channel 410 on DSTV).

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

I will be presenting @UKZN's School of Management, Information Technology and Governance at the Future of Education Summit 2023. Register for free at https://t.co/hWEN9UxGuJ.
#FOE2023 #Co-Inspire

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

If you are at the conference, come and connect with us to explore ways of partnering and collaborating to leverage international partnerships to develop innovative higher education solutions aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa!

[Prof. Thea van der Westhuizen @theavander]

The @zaBritish is presenting a session about the Innovation for African Universities (IAU) program - forms part of Going Global Partnerships (https://t.co/oyLQxdg9rb) at the 2023 Leaders of International Education @AIEAWorld Conference.