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Another milestone celebrated as Drone Divas Cohort 3 is set to launch

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Past participants in the Drone Divas initiative (file photo)

Unisa's Inhlanyelo Hub NPC is proud to announce the official launch of Drone Divas Cohort 3, scheduled for Friday 1 August 2025. The Drone Industry Business Start-up Programme sets out to empower women in drone technology and aviation. On the same day, the women drone pilots who formed part of the Cape Town group in 2024 will receive their official licences and wings.

The Drone Divas initiative continues to break gender barriers by equipping women with in-demand skills in drone technology. Since its inception in September 2023, the programme has empowered women through hands-on training in drone piloting, coding, technology development, industry applications and drone manufacturing.

Applications for the third cohort were solicited from registered Unisa students, with preference given to those in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. "Drone Divas is more than a programme – it’s a bold statement about women leading in the tech and innovation space," says Prof Raphael Mpofu, CEO of Inhlanyelo Hub NPC.

Prof Annemarie Davis, the project leader of this UCDP-funded initiative focused on entrepreneurial development, adds: "From the beginning, our goal has been clear: to unlock new futures for women by building strong foundations in innovation and enterprise."

By nurturing female talent in a high-growth sector, Unisa’s Inhlanyelo Hub NPC responds directly to South Africa’s pressing social challenges, particularly youth unemployment and gender inequality. The programme provides a practical pathway for women to enter the job market, start businesses, or contribute to critical industries such as agriculture, environmental management and infrastructure monitoring.

This is innovation in action, tackling unemployment through skills development and enterprise activation. 

* By Unisa Media Affairs

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Publish date: 2025-07-31 00:00:00.0

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