Graduates and third year students are encouraged to apply for the new Postgraduate Diploma to drive business ownership and job creation. 

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) announced its Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The diploma aims for graduates and third-year students in engineering, science, and health sciences to become catalysts for business ownership and job creation. Apply for the PG Dip in Innovation and Entrepreneurship before 30 September 2023. 

Professor Christo Doherty, the course coordinator says: "We particularly encourage candidates who are contemplating pursuing a Master's or PhD in any of these fields, so they can embark on advanced degrees armed with the knowledge of how to commercialise their research. Graduates of this programme will have a wealth of career opportunities. Equipped with the aptitude and mindset for innovation and creation, they represent the future generation of entrepreneurs and job creators. They will not merely seek jobs; they will create them."

The programme was developed and is led by the Wits Innovation Centre, and will bridge the gap between academic research and real-world innovation. It will empower students to translate their research into tangible solutions that drive meaningful change in society. The Diploma seeks to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of young scientists and engineers to ensure that their research outcomes do not languish on dusty shelves but ignite the flames of practical application. Professor Nithaya Chetty, the Dean of the Wits Faculty of Science says: "South African universities must now give attention to both discovery research and innovation. This is a novel diploma that will combine collaborative teaching and learning to fast-track researchers into careers as innovators and entrepreneurs”.

The PGDip in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a multi-faculty initiative characterised by a hands-on approach, with a year-long research project at its core. Students will collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team of lecturers, gaining invaluable insights and guidance throughout their journey. The curriculum covers critical subjects such as The Fundamentals of Business for Innovators, Innovation and the Commercialization of Research, Creating Ventures for Innovators, and Applying Design Thinking to Innovation. The programme’s objective is to expedite the transformation of students' research and ideas into commercially viable endeavours or solutions with significant societal impact.