THRIVE ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2024 26 By Katlego Cindy Raboroko, Graduate Intern Students Today, Employers Tomorrow From Students to Job Creators Entrepreneurship is a verb, and the tourism sector presents plenty of opportunities for young people to pursue their own ventures. But it is also important to highlight that however ‘glamorous’ it is made to seem; the journey of entrepreneurship is not an easy one. It is with in mind that I approached the initiative, however I came away with a “can do”, based on the stories that were shared by the guest speakers and the pitches that were presented by the students. “The main idea behind this initiative is to assist students reimagine their futures and their contribution to the industry, not necessarily as employees but rather as employers” says business management lecturer Vongani Ntimane. Add the sentence: Ntimane’s words were supported by lecturer, Mandla Sibisi. “Tourism and hospitality present a lot of opportunities for students to be self-employed”. Once upon a time, a person’s career trajectory was straightforward – you go to school, complete your tertiary qualification if afforded the opportunity, secure a job and work there until you retire. The world has changed significantly since then. For us the Gen-Zs and the Alphas that follow, the intersection between education and the world of work has taken on an entirely new meaning. Whilst our socio-economic environment may be slow (in some areas) to adapt to these generational shifts – the stories shared with students at the recent STH Entrepreneurship Day gives one reason to be inspired. Industry Partnership Cynthia Mabaso, who lectures financial management, highlighted the critical role of industry partners in supporting the initiative. “We invite industry partners to be part of this initiative to show the potential of our students”. The Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy continued to play a leading role as industry partner with entrepreneurs and Airbnb Super host Ambassador, Audrey Nxumalo being involved as a guest judge for the business pitch component of the initiative project. “And so, as we evaluate their pitches, we are also looking to see how well they are applying some of these concepts. Afterall these are the foundational concepts that they will build on as they pursue their ideas further in the future” ~ Cynthia Mabaso Business Pitches Beyond words of inspiration, the initiative also includes a segment where students in their respective groups are afforded the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a team of judges. The various ideas are presented in accordance to the following categories: • Social Impact • Technology- related business ventures • Sustainability Initiatives • Airbnb Experience • Food and Beverage Parallel to this, students took up space to showcase different dishes and food that was put on sale. “We have been very intentional about ensuring that project aligns well with what the learners are being taught in the classroom” Mabaso explains.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx