In order to be successful in the implementation of its IRDAS Model, Dr Richard Maponya Institute for Skills and Entrepreneurship Development, is inviting Professionals & Specialists to declare their interest in being added to the Networks as listed below. The Professionals & Specialists subscribed to the Networks will receive further and relevant communication about the programmes of the Institute and the role they could play in partnership with the Institute. We will run a series of workshops, seminars, conferences and dialogues to grow the members of the networks:
- Entrepreneurship Coaches & Mentors Network: This is the network for the qualified, practicing and independent entrepreneurship Coaches & Mentors who want to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of Dr Richard Maponya Institute. They must also be members and registered with a recognised professional coaching and mentoring association/organization in South Africa and/or international.
- Intra-Trade Entrepreneurs Network: Dr Richard Maponya Institute encourages South African entrepreneurs, especially SMMEs, to do business with each other, and create jobs for our people. The Institute also encourages trade with other entrepreneurs in the continent, Africa, and the world. For this to happen we encourage the entrepreneurs that are already practicing to register with the Network, so that the Institute can expose them to each other and facilitate trade.
- Industry Partner Companies (Private, Public & Non-Profit) Network: For the purpose of practical development of the students & learner entrepreneurs Dr Richard Maponya Institute invites all the companies in South Africa (local and multinationals) to partner with it. These companies have many roles to play, among others, participation by the entrepreneurs in their supply chain, enterprise development, awarding of scholarships, hosting of student industry tours, workplace for training & development purpose, mentoring of the students & learner entrepreneurs, financial support for student & learner entrepreneurs, sponsorship & funding of programmes (courses, seminars, conferences, lectures, students industry tours, etc), and international educational tours.
- Partner Institutions of Higher Learning (Universities, Colleges & Academies) Network: The Dr Richard Maponya Institute does not intend to compete with the existing institutions of learning in South Africa, continent, or the world. It seeks to partner with any institution that shares similar objectives. The Institute would like to partner with at least one Institution of Higher Learning in each Province in South Africa. These institutions will be crucial when Dr Richard Maponya Institute starts expanding its programmes nationally in 2016, starting with the introduction of the National Provincial Students Industry Tours & Entrepreneurship Lectures. It will also explore partnerships with other institutions in Africa and internationally.
- National Learner Practitioner Entrepreneurs Network: Dr Richard Maponya Institute has partnered with the University of Johannesburg, and is now running the Dr Richard Maponya – Soweto Annual Conference on Entrepreneurship at the Soweto Campus. The Institute would like this Network to continue interacting with those entrepreneurs who participate in this conference and many other programmes for the Learner Practitioner Entrepreneurs to ensure that the entrepreneurs do not stop learning as they grow their businesses and creating jobs.
- National Students (from Higher Institutions of Learning) Network: Dr Richard Maponya Institute is launching the Annual Provincial Students Industry Tours for the final year students at the Universities to visit the operations facilities of the Industry Partner Companies (Private, Public & Non-Profit) and learn about their sectors long before they graduate. This Network will make sure that the Institute is able to keep in touch with these students as they continue on their development and professional journey.
- International Learner Practitioner Entrepreneurs Network: Dr Richard Maponya has hosted a number of international learner practitioner entrepreneurs from the countries of the continent, Africa. He has found these sessions valuable as he shared his insights in entrepreneurship and inspires them to continue advancing the economy of Africa. This Network is to make sure that all the learner practitioner entrepreneurs that have come into contact with him continue exchanging knowledge with the learner practitioner entrepreneurs in South Africa.
- International Students (from Higher Institutions of Learning) Network: Similarly, Dr Richard Maponya hosts a number of students from a number of Business Schools from around the world. In fact these visits inspired him to launch the National Students (from Higher Institutions of Learning) Network in South Africa. He believes all the students deserve the attention of the entrepreneurs like him. This Network of international students will be encouraged to stay in touch with the Institute and interact with their South African peers.
- Entrepreneurship Trainers, Lecturers & Facilitators Network: This is the network for the qualified trainers, lecturers and facilitators that have a desire, to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of Dr Richard Maponya Institute. They must be working for the Institution that is a partner with Dr Richard Maponya Institute. They will be requested to seek permission from their institutions to participate in the Programmes of Dr Richard Maponya Institute.
- Alumni (Entrepreneurship Lecture, Think Tanks, and Dialogues) Network: To qualify to be added to the Alumni Network you must have participated in one of Dr Richard Maponya Institute’s Annual National Lecture on Entrepreneurship, Annual Provincial Lectures on Entrepreneurship, Quarterly Think Tanks on Entrepreneurship, Quarterly Dialogues on Entrepreneurship, Dr Richard Maponya – Soweto Annual Conference on Entrepreneurship, Annual Provincial Student Industry Tours, and Skills & Entrepreneurship Development Courses/Programmes.