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In February 2021 the Stellenbosch University LaunchLab in partnership with SU School for Data Science and Computational Thinking will be launching its newly established SU Techpreneurship Centre. The goal is to provide final year students and/or recent graduates with an opportunity to be part of a 6-week coding and entrepreneurship programme. They will then be placed with a startup and/or industry partner in the form of a fixed-term internship to work on real-world problems and/or projects.

 Keenan Stewart, Senior Service Delivery Manager from SU LaunchLab, said the Techpreneurship Centre will leverage off Stellenbosch University expertise in Data Science, Machine Learning, Robotics & Business Incubation to promote entrepreneurial activities while providing students with a pragmatic learning environment, as well as job placement into companies upon graduation.

 “The new SU School for Data Science and Computational Thinking would support and develop a coding programme, while the SU LaunchLab will focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and business fundamentals through its incubation program. The result will be an inspiring, pragmatic, entrepreneurial initiative for all SU students," said Stewart.

 In terms of SU's Vision 2040 the initiative sees this collaboration contributing to creating a transformative student experience in that this learning journey will provide a seamless transition into the workforce through practical experience with SU LaunchLab startups and its partners.

Stewart said students and graduates will have the opportunity to learn coding skills for mobile application and web development, as well as entrepreneurship, innovation and soft skills needed in modern-day business. “We will curate a custom learning journey for developers to gain the most relevant skills required for a tech-enabled business."

 In Sub-Saharan Africa as many as 230 million jobs will require digital skills by 2030 – illustrating how crucial future demand for work-ready graduates is.  SU Techpreneurship Centre will create a critical link between classroom studies and real-world experience by providing a tested path to startup companies eager for a junior developer pipeline.

 Important dates

●      Applications open: 01 Oct 2020

●      Applications close: 15 Nov 2020

●      Interviews:  19 Nov 2020

●      Selection:  23 Nov 2020

●      Program: 01 Feb 2021 - 12 Mar 2021

●      Internship: 01 Apr 2021 - 30 Sep 2021

 If you are interested and would like to pre-sign up for the program, please complete form HERE.