Deadline: 13-Nov-2025
The Lovedale TVET College has launched a pioneering student innovation challenge in collaboration with UNDP South Africa, designed to nurture student creativity, strengthen hands-on learning, and build a sustainable innovation-to-venture pipeline through its Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubation (CFERI).
The challenge focuses on five key development areas—Communications Technology, Fintech, Art & Design for Innovation, Climate & Smart Agriculture, and Engineering, AI & Emerging Technologies.
It aims to complete Phase 1 of the Lovedale Student Challenge by end-March, while equipping at least seven staff members and ten students with hands-on skills in ICT, AI, Robotics, and Prototyping through the T-Pod.
The initiative will also introduce a comprehensive Phase 2 programme to establish an annual innovation-to-venture pipeline via the CFERI, alongside hosting masterclasses, industry talks, and a final Pitch Day. The six-month contract will be implemented with consideration for student examinations and holiday schedules.
As part of this transformative initiative, Lovedale TVET College has introduced Phase 1 of its Student Innovation Challenge to empower students in developing creative and practical solutions addressing local and global challenges.
The selected service provider will play a critical role in mentoring participants, facilitating ideation and selection processes, and guiding prototype and venture creation. By integrating with the CFERI, the initiative aims to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation that extends beyond the project timeline.
Capacity building is a key aspect of the programme, with plans to upskill staff and students in emerging technologies such as 3D printing, microcontrollers like Arduino, and virtual reality applications.
The training will also focus on venture development processes including problem discovery, market validation, MVP creation, business modelling, and investment readiness. These efforts are aimed at equipping participants with the technical and entrepreneurial skills required to transform innovative ideas into viable ventures.
Furthermore, the challenge will culminate in a Pitch Day event, where participants will present their innovations to industry experts and potential investors. Additional ecosystem events, such as masterclasses and industry talks, will be organised to create engagement between students, faculty, and key ecosystem actors.
This initiative is envisioned as a pilot for replication across other TVET colleges in South Africa, demonstrating a scalable model for integrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical learning within the vocational education system.
Through this collaboration, Lovedale TVET College and UNDP aim to cultivate a new generation of innovators capable of driving sustainable development and economic transformation in the region.
The deadline for applications is 13 November 2025.
For more information, visit UNDP.