[2007-07-17] First press release of the World Conference 2008 in Porto (Portugal)
Download the first press release here.
Press
[2007-07-03] Arnaldo Abruzzini confirmed as key speaker for JADE
Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General, Eurochambres confirmed his participation at the JADE Anniversary Day on the 4th of October 2007 as a key speaker. Arnaldo is involved in the Junior Enterprise network already several years and member of the JADE Advisory Board. Therefore we are glad to welcome him at our celebrations.
[2007-06-23] JADE supports South African Junior Enterprise Project
Summary
This project provides an innovative response to the skills deficit among graduates from
higher education in South Africa – a key constraint to long-run economic growth. The
primary function of this project is to enhance the employability of students and
graduates – developing their research, analytical and project management skills by
training them to conduct consulting projects with socio-economic development
objectives. Furthermore the project will persevere to recruit and train students from
previously disadvantaged communities with the aim of advancing the process of
transformation. This pilot project will pioneer the student-consulting service industry in
South Africa.
Problem Statement
Universally students require stronger and more creative linkages between student life
and the world of work. With regards to the nature of the higher education curriculum in
South Africa there is a calling for greater application and practice in conjunction with a
clear emphasis on economic and social relevance. Moreover in the context of
developing economies, with high levels of unemployment the need for
entrepreneurship training is critical.
Related to the skills deficit in South Africa is the issue of lack of soft skills, as many
employers feel that graduates lack generic soft skills and are not workplace ready. In
an increasingly competitive globalizing economy there exists a growing demand for
new labour market entrants (recent graduates) to possess generic competencies such
as: soft skills (i.e. communication skills), basic management skills, personality
development, problem-solving skills, and information-technology skills. There is an
urgent need to develop innovative mechanisms which will provide recent graduates
and current students with the access to resources and opportunities to develop their
skills – thereby increasing their employability and overall capacity.
Background
The project is formulated on the “Junior Enterprise (JE) Concept.” This acclaimed
European concept is founded on the principle of “learning by doing” and provides a
model whereby students manage a small to medium sized non-profit enterprise and
conduct professional consulting projects for clients (private and public sector). Junior
Enterprises offer university students and graduates the opportunity to add invaluable
practical experience to their theoretical knowledge and develop entrepreneurship
qualities at an early stage.
The JE-concept provides the basic framework with which to adapt and develop an
innovative JE model suitable to the South African socio-economic condition. Therefore
the JE-concept in South Africa will be designed to mobilise the human capital potential
of students to further socio-economic development goals – working towards cultivating
a culture of social entrepreneurship among students from all academic disciplines.
The founders of the South African Junior Enterprise Project are a group of motivated
and talented young MA students from the School of Development Studies (SoDS),
University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Aims
- Create stronger linkages between universities and the world of work
- Provide practical work experience and create employment for students and unemployed graduates
- Provide practical entrepreneurial training and skills development (i.e. project management training and soft skills development)
- Deepen youth participation in development by contracting students to execute projects/studies with socio-economic development objectives
- Pioneer a youth-service industry in South Africa – providing a competitive alternative in the field of consulting Establish youth knowledge networks
- Create sustainable partnerships with stakeholders (public and private sector)
Expected Outcomes
The results of this pilot project and subsequent research study will culminate in the
design of a South African JE model, furthermore providing clear policy
recommendations for government to consider in the advent of implementing this JE
model as a national higher education policy response. Through government’s Joint
Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) intervention, there exists the opportunity
to consider such creative higher education policy responses on a national scale. In
addition this project is partnered by a leading German Junior Enterprise, the Company
Consulting Team e.V. (www.cct-ev.de), exemplifying South African and German youth
in partnership for development.
Prospective Partners
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Development Studies (SoDs)
- Embassy of the Republic of South Africa (Germany, Berlin)
- Company Consulting Team e.V. (CCT)
- International Junior Enterprise Networks – JADE (www.jadenet.org)
- BrasilJunior, ShARE
- South African Government – JIPSA Programme
- Umsobomvu Youth Fund
- South African Graduates Development Association (SAGDA)
Project Coordinators
Mr. Kruschen Govender (Director)
Master in Development Studies (School of Development Studies, UKZN)
Tel: 0302 207 3122
Mobile: 0176 6801 4088
Email: teamtossie (at) yahoo.com or govenderk (at) foreign.gov.za
[2007-06-23] “The Junior Enterprise Movement - Cultivating Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies” Intercultural Workshop, Saturday 30th of June 2007, 10a.m. - 5p.m
“The Junior Enterprise Movement - Cultivating Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies” Intercultural Workshop, Saturday 30th of June 2007, 10a.m. - 5p.m. Brandenburgishce Technische Universitat Cottbus, Germany. Organized by the Company Consulting Team e.V. and Kruschen Govender (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), in association with Doroteha Giesche (Evangelische Studierenden Gemeinde, Berlin).
Workshop Summary
The aim of this intercultural workshop is to share and transfer knowledge about the Junior Enterprise concept in order to enhance entrepreneurship training and employability among students from developing countries. The workshop will include a presentation of the Company Consulting Team e.V. (a leading German JE), followed by an interactive discussion on the application of the JE-concept in developing economies. A graduate student from South Africa (Kruschen Govender, University of KwaZulu-Natal) will present an evolving socio-economic development approach to the JE-concept. In line with the JE philosophy of “learning by doing,” teams of international students will have the opportunity to engage with practical JE case studies. Ultimately student entrepreneurs will be inspired and equipped with the basic tools to realise their vision of a JE in their home country.
Contact:
Mr. Kruschen Govender (Director)
Master in Development Studies (School of Development Studies, UKZN)
Tel: 0302 207 3122
Mobile: 0176 6801 4088
Email: teamtossie (at) yahoo.com or govenderk (at) foreign.gov.za
Download more information:
[2007-03-21] JADE launches year of celebrations
Article in New Europe, the European weekly, March 3rd 2007
Download the press mentioning
[2006-07-03] Press Release July 3rd: Junior Enterprise World Conference
Please download the full press release here.
JADE the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises, is offering selected students of its 20,000 people network, as well as from the Brasil Junior and the Asian ShARE network, the unique opportunity to take part in the Junior Enterprise World Conference 2006, taking place in Eindhoven from the 5th to 10th of July. During the prestigious event, the students will have the possibility to exchange their knowledge and experience with each other and discuss their opinions with high-ranking representatives from politics and business.
Among the highlights of the event is the key note session during which high-ranking representatives from private business as well as the public sector express their support for the Junior Enterprise movement and discuss the challenges that an innovative knowledge-based society has to overcome and how it can best make use of one of its most important assets: young people.
- Mr. Kleisterlee, CEO Royal Philips Electronics
- Mr. Clarke, CEO Arthur D. Little [Competitiveness in Europe]
- Mr. Martens, CEO European Policy Centre [moderator]
- Mr. Hofheinz, President of the Lisbon Council
- Mr. Lars Hajslund, JCI World President
EU-Politicians agree that Entrepreneurs are the backbone of an economy which is needed to build an innovative and strong Europe. The event is therefore a unique platform for raising the awareness of entrepreneurial education and young entrepreneurship, thus trying to answer what will make Europe more competitive.
[2005-10-10] Lisbon is But a Dream for Europe’s Young Entrepreneurs
Article in EU Reporter, 10 October 2005
