Wits University, together with the Jo’burg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), has received official endorsement from the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) for the further development of the Tshimologong Precinct.
The innovative new-age software skills development and innovation hub is in Jo’burg’s inner city and is being developed by the JCSE and Wits University.
Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the JCSE and founder of the Tshimologong Precinct, says that the HRDC will endorse and broker financial and other support from both the public and private sector in support of the strategy
presented by Wits University and the JCSE. “The council’s support will enable the JCSE to fast track the establishment of the technology hub in Braamfontein, which will build on skills development, entrepreneurship and youth employment.”
Dwolatzky says of significance is not only the endorsement from the HRDC, but the subsequent creation of an international Business Innovation Zone network (BIZ-Net), which includes partnerships between Wits University (South Africa), Ryerson University (Canada) and Zone Start-ups (India). This approach will grow a network of local and national hubs to support start-ups, entrepreneurship and skills development across South Africa.
“BIZ-Net will support the establishment of new SMMEs, which will make a direct contribution to meeting South Africa’s three most serious challenges: poverty, inequality and unemployment, particularly youth unemployment,” says Dwolatzky.
Partnering with Canada’s Ryerson University enables Wits to build upon five years of experience operating a globally ranked business incubator. The Tshimologong Precinct is strongly inspired by the Ryerson’s model in Toronto. It is being established in Juta Street Braamfontein and will be run on a sustainable business model, which will be accessible to all levels from a car-guard to a PhD researcher.
Professor Adam Habib, vice-chancellor of Wits University, says that the development of the Tshimologong Precinct is a core component of Wits’ overriding strategy and it is strongly endorsed by City of Johannesburg as an ICT Cluster.
“The additional endorsement from the HRDC ensures that the Precinct will also support national priorities, including the creation of new SMMEs, fostering skills and youth entrepreneurship. It addresses poverty, inclusivity and unemployment contributes to city building and rejuvenation of central Johannesburg.”
Professor Dwolatzky and vice chancellor Prof Habib travelled to India for the celebration of the first anniversary of Zone Start-up, hosted within the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The BIZ-Net relationship was announced at this event.
