WSU Queenstown campus student visits India
Walter Sisulu University Queenstown campus student Lerato Tshefu recently visited India on a mentorship and learning trip.
The trip was the result of Tshefu winning in a innovative idea-pitching competition for students at a South African Technology Network (SATN) 2018 Conference in Durban.
Three students represented WSU – Tshefu, Mxolisi Zoko and Zama Nako – with the conference theme, “The Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Education”.
In line with this, students had to pitch an innovative idea.
For the WSU, the idea was about an education app for learning and studying outside the classroom.
The app seeks to provide a platform for students to have access to teaching and study material to ultimately improve their marks.
The background and advantage for this app is that most students are already using smartphones for their connection. Unlike other education platforms, Study Buddy, as the app is known, will have live streaming and playback of video and audio content.
The panel of seven judges was impressed with the idea and the three-minute pitch.
Tshefu was chosen along with two students from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Part of the reason for the idea pitching was to help these students develop them into practical business ideas.
Lerato found it to be a great learning experience to meet with app developers and to expand his knowledge.
“It was a good experience for me. I now know more about app development and digital marketing. I had a very knowledgeable team to help me to build our minimum viable product [MVP]. SATN CEO Dr Anshu Padayachee was also present.”
To make the MVP will require about R600,000 if it functions according to specifications.
App development requires a proper execution and a clear sustainability plan. From the knowledge gained from his mentors in India, Lerato and the team will now take the app forward. Funders within the technological field have shown interest in the app.
Technology Innovation Africa TIA has made a commitment to provide support as the idea fit in well with some of their objectives.