“From classroom moments to published scholarship, Mrs Onica Thandi Matsheke’s journey reflects resilience, faith, and innovation, shaping entrepreneurship education at VUT and beyond.”
31 March 2026 | Story by: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture: Supplied
4 minutes read time.
There is a quiet determination that lives in the work of educators who refuse to teach from a distance, those who carry their students’ ambitions as part of their own. Mrs Onica Thandi Matsheke is one such academic.
A lecturer in the Department of Human Resource Management within the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Mrs Matsheke has made a notable academic contribution through a chapter in the book Innovative Pedagogies for Entrepreneurship Education: Insights and Reflections from South Africa. Yet, beyond the publication lies a deeply personal journey shaped by persistence, faith, and a commitment to seeing her students succeed beyond the classroom.
Her story began with a submission to the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards in 2024. While her case study, centred on the use of Design Thinking process to drive student-led businesses, did not take the top honour, it found a different kind of recognition. Selected by editor Professor Thea van der Westhuizen, the work was refined through an international peer-review process and ultimately published.
“I was very happy; I thought I was dreaming. To God be the glory!” she recalls. “It was not a waste of time. I am even happier to see my name appearing in this peer-reviewed, open-access book.”
For Mrs Matsheke, the chapter is not merely an academic exercise. It is a reflection of lived experience in the lecture room and virtual engagement, where ideas are ideated and tested, challenged, and shaped by the realities students face. Her work demonstrates how contextually relevant teaching methods can move beyond theory, equipping students with practical capabilities such as opportunity recognition, problem-solving, and business planning.
She speaks not in abstract terms, but through the stories of her students, many of whom have ventured into entrepreneurship through platforms such as Enactus competitions supported by organisations including MTN Group and Harmony Gold.
“I shared practical examples of students who have launched businesses through participating in competitions and challenges,” she explains. “I recommend that all students participate in these competitions because they expose them to real-life business situations.”
It is this grounding in real lives, real struggles, and real aspirations that gives her work its authenticity. Reflecting on the writing process, she notes, “Reflecting on these experiences made the chapter authentic.”
Her teaching philosophy centres on nurturing more than academic competence. It is about building resilience, encouraging responsible risk-taking, and instilling financial literacy, all while cultivating a mindset that sees opportunity where others may see limitation.
The official book launch, held on Thursday, 26 March 2026, at Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo, marked a significant milestone. For Mrs Matsheke, however, the moment carried more than ceremonial value.
“Receiving the certificate of contribution was both an honour and a deeply rewarding experience,” she says.
Since its publication, the chapter has begun to resonate within academic circles, earning recognition for its practical relevance and its ability to bridge the divide between theory and practice. Now indexed on Google Scholar, it has already attracted early citations, signalling its growing influence.
Looking ahead, Mrs Matsheke hopes her work will inspire a shift in how entrepreneurship is taught, towards approaches that are immersive, student-centred, and responsive to the realities of South Africa’s socio-economic landscape.
“Traditional methods often fail to fully prepare students for the realities of entrepreneurship,” she reflects. “This chapter introduces innovative, student-centred pedagogies that bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.”
Her journey is a reminder that impactful teaching is rarely confined to lecture notes or textbooks. It is shaped in moments of encouragement, in the courage to try new approaches, and in the belief that education must ultimately change lives.
Through her work, Mrs Matsheke is not only advancing scholarship. She is shaping futures, one student, one idea, and one opportunity at a time.
Congratulations, Mrs Matsheke, and thank you for continuing to fly the VUT flag high through your dedication to innovation and excellence in teaching.