Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship

In support of the Inclusive Innovation collaboration between the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the University of Toronto

Internship Outline 2016

Introduction

The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the University of Toronto are involved in an exciting collaboration to build a network of student leaders trained in inclusive innovation to work together to address the challenges of low-income communities, and how to promote innovative and workable solutions.

As part of this collaboration, we have a selection of students from the Munk School of Global Affairs in Toronto coming out to South Africa this year to conduct an12-16 week internship with host organisations.

Overview of Internship Opportunity

Organisation: The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development (RAA)

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development (RAA) is a tertiary-level, post-high school level academy based at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and at the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg. The RAA offers an inclusive, inspiring, innovative and practical programme in entrepreneurial development to young people who do not have the opportunity to access tertiary education but are passionate about business and personal development.

This project is private/academic partnership aimed at making the universities more inclusive and open to a non-traditional profile of student. The RAA aims to help young people rise above their social, financial and academic constraints to achieve a quality education in entrepreneurship. The course was designed as a 6-month, full time short course in entrepreneurial development in response to the youth crisis in education and employment. The Academy runs two courses per year and takes an average 30 students per course. Approximately 900 young people have graduated from the programmes in Cape Town and Soweto.The success of the current programme has also required that the RAA implement a ‘Graduate Entrepreneurial Support Service’ for RAA graduates and alumni who, on completing the course, would like to start a business, or who require assistance with their existing businesses, or navigating the opportunities in entering private sector employment.

Outline of Internship Project

GESS is a customized part-time programme that supports RAA alumni to scale-up their existing start-up businesses. It is one of 8 international university projects selected to form part of the Taillores Network Youth Economic Participation Initiative. The GESS programme comprises:

•Entrepreneurial Incubation for RAA Alumni entrepreneurs

•Capital/Seed Funding

•Skills alignment and work opportunities with private sector partners

Objectives of the programme:

Grow SME businesses
Create jobs and income through SME businesses
Mobilize private capital and know-how to SME businesses

We are looking for an intern to assist with the GESS programme.

How does the completion of the internship assist the organization?

The RAA team is looking for an intern to research, advise and pilot the best administrative, M&E and technology systems that can be put in place in order to create an efficient, organised and enabling environment for the GESS team. The GESS team is looking to implement systems that will support reporting, monitoring and tracking of entrepreneurs across its Cape Town and Soweto campuses, especially as the program starts to scale and bring more entrepreneurs on board.

The intern will be required to:

•Research sector specific tools used to track and monitor entrepreneur incubation

•Research best practice systems in terms of reporting, tracking and administrative support for a programme of this nature

•Identify and pilot technology or online applications that can be used by the GESS team

•Identify the best combination of tools to support the GESS team

•Identify tools that the GESS entrepreneurs can use to access information and communicate amongst each other

•Work with the Academy director and GESS team to identify needs

•Interview stakeholders and entrepreneurs to identify needs

•Write-up, set up and pilot the preferred systems (including the write up of case studies).

We want GESS to be an INNOVATIVE business support programme that will bring out the best in our entrepreneurs and their businesses.

What skills might the intern learn on the project?

Most importantly they'll be part of anRAAsome team and work with some very cool people and entrepreneurs!

Other skills:

•SME development (youth)

•Business analysis and assessment

•Assessing and implementing systems

•Planning

•Management of information

•People skills

What skills would the intern need to have, in order to undertake the project?

•Strong interpersonal skills, creativity and ability to mix with other people, particularly in an emerging market setting

•Resilience

•Tolerance for ambiguity and change

•Deep passion for inclusive innovation

•High energy levels with a bias for action

•Numerate and literate

•Good analytical thinking ability

•Innovative, conceptual problem solver

•Dynamic, open minded and flexible

•Bachelors degree required

•Experience with Excel and data analysis required

•Experience of Google Drive, online and cloud applications (or ability to learn these quickly)

•Strong interest in how impact measurement approaches can be used to improve business development support to GESS entrepreneurs

•Research skills and the ability to quickly research, synthesise and summarise key lessons

•Logical with good numeracy skills and good communication skills (written and verbal

•Ability to create and analyse solutions

•Some experience working or volunteering within the development, social or public sectors and/or with entrepreneurs

Duration of placement

The project is ideally 12-16 weeks duration, across May 2nd –September 2nd 2016.