Unisa's DITTC champions second edition of Tshwane Higher Education Innovation Challenge

The City of Tshwane (CoT), in collaboration with Unisa and other higher education institutions, including TVET colleges, within Tshwane,  is launching its second instalment of the Tshwane Higher Education Innovation Challenge. The challenge allows student innovators to win cash prizes by developing solutions to challenges directly impacting service delivery. The competition is open to full-time and part-time students from Unisa and participating institutions.

Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation and Ayanda Noma, Director: DITTC among Unisa participants host the City of Tshwane.

Under the theme #Innovate4impact, the competition challenges student participants to devise innovative solutions for three specific challenges posed by the CoT: a multi-service municipal digital booking system, an upgraded electronic burial management system, and a human resource management system to effectively monitor the progress of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants. The winners will receive prize money ranging from R30,000 to R50,000 at an award ceremony scheduled for November 2024.

The background of the partnership between educational institutions

This initiative is now in its second instalment. The first challenge, named the Inter-University Challenge, was launched in 2019. It originated from a multi-party agreement with Unisa as one of the key stakeholders. The participating institutions recognised the immense potential in their students' ability to create solutions that respond to society's challenges. With a shared commitment to fostering an environment where student creativity and ingenuity can thrive, this challenge was conceived.

Nkamogelang Bogopa, founder of Hunadi Cycle and Simon Kgalabi Mongatane, founder of Eco-ba.

Three students from Unisa emerged as winners in the inaugural challenge. The students received support from the Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commerciaisation (DITTC) through their programmes, which provided seed funding and mentoring. Among the students were Simon Kgalabi Mongatane, founder of Eco-ba, a company addressing the lack of access to hygiene solutions for Early Child Centres and Nkamogelang Bogopa, founder of Hunadi Cycle, an initiative that promotes easy movement using e-bicycles equipped with rechargeable batteries and an inner-city GPS device.

Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal of Research: Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, said: "At Unisa, we are deeply committed to fostering innovation and creativity among our students, and the Tshwane Higher Education Innovation Challenge is a testament to this dedication. The collaboration between the City of Tshwane, Unisa, and other esteemed institutions reflects our shared vision of leveraging student ingenuity to address real-world challenges. As we embark on the second instalment of this challenge under the theme #Innovate4Impact, I am excited to see the innovative solutions our students will develop."

Meyiwa added: "From creating a multi-service municipal digital booking system to upgrading an electronic burial management system and enhancing human resource management for the EPWP, our students have the opportunity to make a significant impact. I encourage all participants to take full advantage of this platform, as it not only offers substantial cash prizes but also the chance to contribute to the betterment of our community. Let's continue to support and inspire each other as we innovate for a brighter future."

The students also had the opportunity to share their journey with DITTC at the launch of the second instalment of the challenge, highlighting the programme's success in initiating their entrepreneurial careers.

Ayanda Noma, Director of DITTC, asserts that this challenge is one of many initiatives that the directorate anchors in ensuring the full support of its students. "This programme allows our students to put their knowledge to use by crafting innovative solutions to real-life problems. The DITTC will continue to support them in bringing those novel ideas into reality and testing this with the City of Tshwane and other metros," Noma said.

How students can participate

Students can register for the initiative by visiting The Innovation Hub website: The Innovation Hub. The submission portal went live on Monday, 01 July, and will remain open until 31 August 2024.

*Submitted by the Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commerciaisation