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Cementing global collaboration through innovation and entrepreneurship exchange programme

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Innovators and technology entrepreneurs from Unisa with students from Chile_banner.jpg

Innovators and technology entrepreneurs from Unisa with students from Chile

To cement global collaboration, Unisa’s student innovators and technology entrepreneurs have embarked on an international exchange programme that exposes them to world-class innovation practices, elevating the university’s endeavour to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation. Led by the institution’s Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (DITTC), the programme commenced on 5 July 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America.

The programme includes an in-depth training at the renowned business and entrepreneurship education institution, the Babson College, as well as at The Boston Ecosystem, which ranks among the best global leaders in innovation. The group will also have the opportunity to engage with entrepreneurs and innovators from, among others, Tufts University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the MassChallenge, to explore the issues of growth and transformation in businesses and economies.


Exposure to cutting-edge innovation programmes

During their farewell ceremony, the DITTC’s Director, Ayanda Noma, said: "The participants will gain first-hand experience in cutting-edge innovation." He continued: "This includes engaging with and learning from relevant and experienced stakeholders from different, renowned institutions in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship." Noma also stated that the delegates will be immersed in environments that have produced some of the world’s leading innovations. He noted: "This exchange programme is more than just a visit; it is an invitation to participate in shaping the future of innovation at Unisa and beyond." Noma was supported by the DITTC’s Business Development Specialist, Basanda Pongoma, who is responsible for UniVentures, an initiative that facilitates the establishment of high-impact staff and student technology enterprises.

Encouraging the programme participants, Unisa’s Executive Director for Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, Prof Les Labuschagne, remarked: "This programme fosters global collaboration between Unisa and other educational institutions globally, therefore, it is important that you serve as responsible ambassadors for the institution and reflect its values." Labuschagne added that the university encourages the delegates to make a deliberate effort to build new relationships and grow professional networks. He further reiterated that the programme promotes innovation and ensures that students are part of the global conversation. "Through programmes such as these, we aim to strengthen both academic and cultural exchange efforts," he concluded.

* By Matshego Njumbuxa, Marketing and Communication Specialist, Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation

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Publish date: 2025-07-10 00:00:00.0

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