College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023 59 was taught as part of a master’s in the Engineering and the Built Department and a pass rate of 83% was achieved. Four LED master’s students under the supervision of Prof Venter graduated during 2023. CONFERENCES A paper was delivered by Prof M. Venter and Dr C. de Bruyn, the postdoctoral research fellow of CENLED, at the Mbali conference at the University of Zululand, titled: ‘Digital technology and economic development: The case of the regional economy of Gauteng province, South Africa’. Research Activities and Impact: Societal Impact, Sustainability, Innovation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) CENLED contributed 6.2283 units towards the CBE research output. This included scholarly articles published in accredited journals and a scholarly book in the CENLED scholarly book series: De Bruyn, C 2023, ‘Preface’, in M Venter & C de Bruyn (eds.), Local economies and pandemics: Regional perspectives, Centre for Local Economic Development: Topics in Local Development, vol. 3, AOSIS Books, Cape Town, pp. xxix–xxx. https://doi.org/10.4102/ aosis.2023.BK439.00 This book covers various local economic development (LED) cases, national and international, focusing on arts and culture, youth development, small- and micro enterprises, the green economy, the circular economy, the importance of the informal sector and resettlement. It unlocks the potential of a substantial agenda for researchers at universities to support innovative attempts to find new ways to achieve just, sustainable LED initiatives and to build global consciousness and empathy in progressing towards a sustainable world. The distinctive contribution of this book to the production of a local developmental body of knowledge lies in the synergetic relationships between these case studies. The aim is to allow LED professionals globally to work towards approaches and initiatives that have wider significance for communities worldwide. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2022. BK368 Four LED master’s students under the supervision of Prof Venter graduated during 2023. The technical research reports were: Nonkululeko Hlatshwayo: ‘Temporary Youth Employment as a local economic development mechanism in the Thuthukani Township’. Louisa Hlungwani: ‘Effectiveness of biofuel and knowledge-sharing systems. By coordinating these inputs, the conditions for productivity and innovation are created. At the other end, PASCAL looks for outcomes and impacts that are beneficial for all within the region. PASCAL wants to increase the range of contributors as well as the number of beneficiaries. If communities are thinking in terms of regional development, they have a great opportunity to learn from similarly engaged regions around the world and from a variety of existing networks that can aid in those efforts. The 17th PASCAL conference ‘New Challenges for Higher Education, Cities and Regions: Addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in Changing Contexts’, will be held from 4 to 6 July 2024. The 17th PASCAL International Conference is co-organised and hosted with the University of Taipei, Taiwan University of Education, and Datong Community College in Taipei at the Howard Civil Service International House. The conference is also supported and sponsored by the Higher Education Reform (HER) network and follows on from its own successful 17th conference in Glasgow in 2023, ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Their potential and relevance for higher education policy and reform’. It is also supported by the Centre for Research and Development in Lifelong Learning (CR&DALL), at the University of Glasgow, host of the European Centre of PASCAL. POLICY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Tourism. A new contract to the value of R4.8 million was secured to capacitate municipal officials and councillors in the online Higher Certificate in LED. During 2023, 71 candidates completed the qualification successfully. Talent Management and Capacity Building. CENLED’s director serves as the Director: PASCAL (Africa), as Chairperson of the Economic Development Council of South Africa, as a council member of the Economic Society of South Africa (ESSA) and as an official member of the Community of Practice for Entrepreneurial Universities of EDHE. CENLED’s director completed a 30-day research internship at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business in Poland and presented two guest lectures to students. Teaching The module Urban and Financial Economics
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx