Maxum Business Incubator

CoachLab™

Quick links How does The CoachLab™ work? What does the CoachLab™ offer? What's in it for you? Sponsoring partners Learning approach What training will I receive? How do I join the CoachLab™? CV CoachLab Framework [MSWord] Contact us

The CoachLab™ at The Innovation Hub - a unique experience, where entrepreneurship and innovation are instilled in tomorrow's business leaders.

Want to make your mark in the ICT community?

Entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas and creative outputs are integral to creating progress, growth and global competitiveness in today's knowledge economy.

If you are serious about becoming a significant player in the ICT sector, the CoachLab™ at The Innovation Hub is the place to help you make it happen.

The unique and exciting CoachLab™ programme will assist you to enter the market place as an active, industry-ready knowledge worker. You will become part of South Africa's world-class ICT resource base with finely honed business skills to help you make your mark in this dynamic, fast-moving business sector.

How does The CoachLab™ work?

The CoachLab™ is a partnership between The Innovation Hub, local industry and universities and is aimed at top post-graduate students - specifically also those form disadvantaged backgrounds - studying in Computer Science, Informatics, Information Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and other technology related disciplines. It is aligned to post-graduate programmes at universities and prepares you to become a highly skilled knowledge worker in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

As a CoachLab™ participant, you will be part of a year-long leadership development programme that will help you bridge the gap between the academic and business worlds. You will participate in action-learning projects that will stimulate innovative thinking and develop your leadership potential.

You will also be encouraged to take initiative and work in a team to deliver value-adding solutions to real-time industry projects.

So what exactly does the CoachLab™ offer?

• Opportunities to work on projects with industry leaders
• A vibrant business environment
• Networking with entrepreneurs and business leaders
• Action learning that integrates core competencies and leadership development
• Mentorship to develop your technical and business skills.

What's in it for you?

You are given the unique opportunity to join a buzzing community of new economy innovators in a vibrant, entrepreneurial environment with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure. You gain invaluable practical experience that teaches you to take initiative, apply knowledge and solve problems while working on critical projects. You also:

• increase your marketability by becoming an industry-ready knowledge worker
• continue your studies while working part-time
• gain a year's working experience and exposure to the ICT industry
• expand your CV with actual job experience, and
• earn a salary.

About the CoachLab's sponsoring partners

Why partner and how do they benefit from their involvement in the CoachLab™?

The sponsors and partners invest their skills, time and knowledge to create the optimum learning experience for you as a programme participant. The industry partners provide the project work, mentorship and supervision and gain access to highly skilled post-graduates to execute specific tasks. The university partners provide academic oversight and form links with industry and obtain feedback for curriculum development.

Currently, the industry partners are EPI-USE Systems (Pty) Ltd, Cisco Systems International BV, MTN (Pty) Ltd, The Resilience Group (Pty) Ltd and the Standard Bank of South Africa (Pty). The academic partners include the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology and UNISA.

What is the learning approach in the CoachLab™?

The focus in the CoachLab™ is on project-based and action learning. This includes soft-skills training such as time management, presentation skills, working in a team and stress management. Skills gaps in related areas such a report writing and conflict management are addressed through formal training sessions and a qualified mentor is available to assist you during the programme.

What training will I receive?

Training and skills development include an orientation programme at the beginning of each year, a team building workshop, visits to sponsoring partners to become familiar with the working environment and a graduation event at the end of each year.

The training programme consists of:

• Action learning
  Continuous learning and reflection focused on finding a solution to a real problem
• Project-based learning
  Real-time learning focused on analytical thinking, evaluation and understanding the context of the problem
• Formal learning
  Continued post-graduate studies and monthly classroom contact sessions focused on business-related topics
• Mentoring
  Focused on your individual growth and career development
• Coaching
  Focused on a desired result for the project through strategically assessing and monitoring your progress and advising you on efficiency and effectiveness.

How do I join the CoachLab™?

You can apply for the following year's intake in September of each year. Once all applications have been received by the end of October, there is a selection process. The sponsoring partners are responsible for the final selection.

If you are passionate about working in the ICT or Applied Sciences sectors and serious about gaining the business skills needed to become an industry leader in your field of study, email your CV using the CV CoachLab Framework to coachlab@theinnovationhub.com with the subject line: CoachLab™ Recruitment.

Contact us

Tel +27 12 844 0033, Fax +27 12 844 1107, coachlab@theinnovationhub.com

Visit the CoachLab™ website at www.coachlab.co.za.