The University, through the CEAD directorate, has entered a partnership with Jonoka Development Solutions to drive socio-economic development and entrepreneurship support through anchor projects which are Asset Mobilisation, Circular Economy projects, Agriculture Value Chain maximization projects and Internationalisation, as directed by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the two parties have signed. CEAD Director, Professor Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni said this partnership would contribute to addressing employment of MUT graduates by offering entrepreneurship skills to students while servicing the community on entrepreneurship development.
Jonoka Development Solutions combines innovative project management with capacity-building expertise to drive sustainable rural, local, and township economic growth. Their innovative solutions are based on asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, helping communities solve their challenges from food security, waste management, youth development, and others. These projects were expected to expose students to hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and abilities to empower local communities while engaging in partnerships with the international community.
Given the above, the CEAD team, together with the Research Directorate, Technology Station in Chemicals (TSC), and Department of Agriculture, welcomed the new MUT partner led by Professor Blessing Karumbidza through an introductory workshop that was held on 24 February 2025. Professor Karumbidza is a Coordinator, Forestry Programme at the Tshwane University of Technology.
During the workshop, Professor Karumbidza introduced anchor community development projects that Jonoka Development Solutions will be driving with MUT during the initial three years of the partnership. Professor Nkonki-Mandleni indicated that the partnership was expected to strengthen the recently Senate-approved Scholarship of Engagement (SoE) framework at MUT which attempts to bring in all forms of scholarships, which derived from research; Integration, which is derived from connecting research findings across disciplines; Teaching and Learning, which happens through applied learning; and Application, for local and international impact.