Inclusive Innovation – Supporting people with disability through design and entrepreneurship

South Africa has around 3 million people living with disabilities, equating to approximately 7.5% of the country’s population. Many find it challenging to get work, resulting in a significant section of the most vulnerable people of South Africa without work or access to a means of generating income. The lack of employment opportunities has increased pressure to establish businesses to support their livelihood. However, few have the skills needed to develop an existing enterprise or start and grow a new venture due to social stigma.

The Central University of Technology, Aston University, Disabled People South Africa, Loughborough University and Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled have partnered to look at ways of bridging the gap. Following initial project insights, it was identified that there is a need to link entrepreneurship skills with technical design skills and support the disabled community. Therefore, this project seeks to develop two case studies of best practices that focus on wheelchair design by the disabled in South Africa. There will be an emphasis on upskilling and offering business and technical opportunities to the wider disabled community.

In addition, the project will develop new educational tools for people living with a disability that supports both technical and entrepreneurship skills. This will be underpinned with mentoring business and marketing support to ensure sustainable employment and transferable skills. It is essential to develop high-skilled opportunities and implement self-sustainable processes to ensure the project continues to grow and develop.

We wish this project well as we unite to grow and innovate Africa for youth employment opportunities

British Council – Innovation for African Universities Programme (IAU)

The British Council IAU (IAU) programme is implemented by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) which is a partnership between City, University of London, the University of Nairobi and ChangeSschool UK.

The Programme comprises 24 partnerships of UK universities, SSA universities and entrepreneurial ecosystem organisations. The programme is running in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana & South Africa.

The CoE looks forward to working in partnership with The Inclusive Innovation project team in Sub-Saharan Africa to exchange knowledge and ideas to strengthen the role of universities in entrepreneurship ecosystems.

To find out more: www.britishcouncil.org/education/he-science/news/entrepreneurship-projects-africa-have-been-announced

#UniteToGrow #BritishCouncil #entrepreneurialuniversity #ented #highereducation #IAUprogramme  #BritishCouncilHigherEducation #TeamChangeSchool

Inclusive Innovation – Supporting people with disability through design and entrepreneurship

South Africa has around 3 million people living with disabilities, equating to approximately 7.5% of the country’s population. Many find it challenging to get work, resulting in a significant section of the most vulnerable people of South Africa without work or access to a means of generating income. The lack of employment opportunities has increased pressure to establish businesses to support their livelihood. However, few have the skills needed to develop an existing enterprise or start and grow a new venture due to social stigma.

The Central University of Technology, Aston University, Disabled People South Africa, Loughborough University and Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled have partnered to look at ways of bridging the gap. Following initial project insights, it was identified that there is a need to link entrepreneurship skills with technical design skills and support the disabled community. Therefore, this project seeks to develop two case studies of best practices that focus on wheelchair design by the disabled in South Africa. There will be an emphasis on upskilling and offering business and technical opportunities to the wider disabled community.

In addition, the project will develop new educational tools for people living with a disability that supports both technical and entrepreneurship skills. This will be underpinned with mentoring business and marketing support to ensure sustainable employment and transferable skills. It is essential to develop high-skilled opportunities and implement self-sustainable processes to ensure the project continues to grow and develop.

We wish this project well as we unite to grow and innovate Africa for youth employment opportunities

British Council – Innovation for African Universities Programme (IAU)

The British Council IAU (IAU) programme is implemented by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) which is a partnership between City, University of London, the University of Nairobi and ChangeSschool UK.

The Programme comprises 24 partnerships of UK universities, SSA universities and entrepreneurial ecosystem organisations. The programme is running in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana & South Africa.

The CoE looks forward to working in partnership with The Inclusive Innovation project team in Sub-Saharan Africa to exchange knowledge and ideas to strengthen the role of universities in entrepreneurship ecosystems.

To find out more: www.britishcouncil.org/education/he-science/news/entrepreneurship-projects-africa-have-been-announced

#UniteToGrow #BritishCouncil #entrepreneurialuniversity #ented #highereducation #IAUprogramme  #BritishCouncilHigherEducation #TeamChangeSchool