Student Employability and Entrepreneurship Development - SEED

SEED is officially up and running, open and free to all registered Nelson Mandela University students looking to grow their skill set in order to thrive in the world of work and solidify their career success. This programme is for Madibaz students who are keen in developing their entrepreneurial & employability skills.

With the skills you acquire from this programme, you are able to improve your chances of landing a job or starting your own business. If you are looking to channel and tap into your true potential and build professional confidence, then SEED is for YOU.

Visit our website to apply for SEED-related opportunities and to learn more about us! 💡🌱

Our mentorship programmes are designed to bring you closer to job opportunities or employment leads. This is what you can expect:

🌱Receive guidance from your assigned peer mentor
🌱Grow your skill set as a student entrepreneur
🌱Find the balance between academics and business
🌱Learn how to manage your personal and business finances
🌱Grow your business profile
🌱Connect with individuals who challenge you

Like if you will be joining us on this journey.

Jameelah, owner of Dolley's Karate Club won Mentor of the Year 2021. We asked her how it felt and this is what she had to say,

“Being crowned mentor of the year for 2021 was a privilege and it made me feel as though every little success that came my way led me to a point where my effort was recognized and that felt good.”

Employability Programme

WHAT IS IT?
The programme is designed to help you bridge the gap between your expectations and the reality of the working world. We use mentoring, networking and coaching activities to enable the exploration, expansion, and/or refinement of your employability skills.

HOW IT WORKS?
You’ll have the opportunity to attend 10 workshops focused on employability and entrepreneurship led by accredited Industry professionals, and 3 networking sessions to engage with like-minded peers.

HOW LONG IS IT?
Six months.

WHO CAN APPLY?
NMU students with access to a smartphone and stable internet connection.

Our facilitators play a massive part in ensuring our sessions run smoothly. We asked one of our facilitators, Jonathan about his experience and this is what he had to say:

"What draws me back to facilitation is the fulfillment it gives one because you get the opportunity to be part of paying it forward. Facilitation allows me to express myself freely and learn from others as they share freely. It's the only space that truly prepares you for work and gives you the necessary soft skills, soft tools, whatever you prefer calling it. To be effective in the workplace and the world of work."

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

That is why we equip you with all the resources needed to “Plan to Succeed”. Whether it be preparing you for employability after graduation or equipping you with the skills needed for your entrepreneurship journey. We will help you put your best foot forward!

Meet Winston, one of the founders of ‘Absolute Cooling’ and winner of the SEED Mentee Competition 2021.

We asked him what his biggest takeaway was and this is what he had to say,

“Through the SEED mentorship program I was able to understand the finer details of my business which included handling finances and sourcing funding for further progression of my business.”

If you would like the opportunity to be mentored, swipe right to see the criteria!

70% of job seekers find a job thanks to networking. With over 60 % of the SA youth being unemployed, creating a network early could be what gets you your next job or business opportunity.

SEED gives you access to networking events that connect you to people beyond just NMU. This year, Nelson Mandela University will host the second ever Student Entrepreneurship Symposium. This will bring together student entrepreneurs and stakeholders from Rhodes University, Walter Sisulu University, and technical vocational education training colleges across the province.

Join SEED today with the link in bio

We had the privilege of having Lonwabo on board as one of our SEED mentors last year. He was so good, his mentee’s won first and second place in the SEED pitch competition.

We asked him what skills he gained through the program and this is what he had to say,

“We learned key skills on small business finance and fundraising, which are key for building a business. We also learnt key performance management techniques like the OKR’s. I also learnt to be patient with people and understand that people work best in an environment where they are encouraged to do something, taking into consideration their level of understanding.”

SEED is in search of mentors and applications are open NOW! If you think you have what it takes, swipe right to check out the criteria.

We commemorate the leaders and citizens that fought for our democracy and liberation into enjoying the rights we have today. We need to preserve our history for future generations and always remember to take responsibility for our rights.

Happy Human Rights Day, South Africa! 🇿🇦

It's a Friday and something's !

Adzuna is famously known as a job search engine but it also has a blog full of all the information that you might find useful. With articles ranging from what you need to secure a job post graduation (employability) to ways in which you can manage and successfully carry-out your start-up from the ground up (entrepreneurship).

Read these and a lot more articles by visiting Adzuna Blog SA. See link in our bio. 💡🌱

We asked a question and you answered!

These are the results to the question: "With the Nelson Mandela University academic year formally starting with classes, what are you most looking forward to?"

Keep an eye out for more quizzes and polls because we love engaging with you!

Our Woman Crush Wednesday is Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa. 💼

With numerous awards behind her belt including Business Woman of the Year 2014 by ForbesWoman Africa, Leading African Woman in Business 2012 by Africa Investors and Business Woman of the Year 2019 by All Africa Business Leaders, it is evident that she is an influential business mogul.

Speaking to the Women's Leadership Conference in 2012, Ms Mahanyela-Dabengwa has expressed the need for women to occupy corporate spaces not only to rectify social injustice but for women to use their talents to solve the problems that the world faces.

We take all the inspiration from her today! 💡🌱

Before we kickstart our Employability Coaching Workshops for the year, we would love to give you an opportunity to have your say! Swipe left to see the big question!

Comment down below with the name and even tag/mention them if you must and we'll see what we can do! 😁

Hint: Look at our Employability Coaching Workshop (Coaching) highlight for an idea of who we invite for these workshops. 💡🌱