Local News
Educational game for basic economic training extended─── 13:13 Mon, 03 Aug 2015
Educational game for basic economic training extended to Thabong community “One way of dealing with the challenges of unemployment is by being innovative and entrepreneurial.
Educational game for basic economic training extended to Thabong community
“One way of dealing with the challenges of unemployment is by being innovative and entrepreneurial. We can no longer be content with simply producing graduates into a hostile, poverty- stricken socio economic environment. We have to change course and provide a form of future-proofing that will not only shape the future of individuals, but the future of this region and the country as a whole,” these were the words of Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) during his address at the official opening.
In the wake of high unemployment, lack of entrepreneurial skills, and the current thinking within the institution, the Faculty of Management Sciences in collaboration with Aalen University took it upon themselves to initiate and develop a series of educational game systems, dubbed planning games. The initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship, a skill that is in high demand across the globe.
In 2014, CUT Enactus group under the leadership of Dr Edem Agbobli, project champion, piloted the project to the small business community of Mafora Township, Bloemfontein. The main intention of the game is to develop and sharpen their business skills, equip them with knowledge that will enable them to run their own businesses, keep records, make transactions, penetrate the market, record their products, and keep record of accomplishment of their capital and profits. It is anticipated that the concept will inculcate entrepreneurial skills among the youth and the unemployed in the Free State and beyond for gainful employment, poverty alleviation and general improvement in the quality of life.
The various levels of the game are as follows:
Levels, values, and subjects in the VAL-U (VALues & yoU) game Level value aspect entrepreneurship contents
1 the concept of value creation Elementary economics: product prize and financial gain, procurement, production and sales
2 adding monetary value Accounting, cost analysis, interest and taxes, investment and financing, funding
3 creating value for the market Marketing and sales, risk management, supply and demand, quality and research, stakeholders
4 valuing people and culture Project management, teamwork and leadership, networking, soft skills and culture
5 entrepreneurial values Sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, strategic planning, competition, entrepreneurship
6 adding value to society Business plan development, forecast and research, bringing the plan to action
During the second half of 2015, beneficiaries will advance to level two until six where they will receive intensive training from the rest of the value aspects.
Ms Maraka Lefera, Programme Coordinator at CUT’s Wellness Centre; Mr Selekoe, Thabong Entrepreneur; Lerato Mokgosi, Enactus Member; Mr Qubada, Thabong Entrepreneur; Mazakia Thlokolo, Enactus Member; Dr Agbobli, and Mr Thokolo, Thabong Entrepreneur.
This statement is issued by CUT in Bloemfontein
.
