Shaping the Future of Entrepreneurship & Education

Welcome To My Official Webpage! I’m Dr. Thea van der Westhuizen, an academic, researcher, and passionate advocate for education, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. With over 15 years of experience in academia and industry, I have dedicated my career to empowering individuals and organizations through knowledge-sharing, research, and mentorship.

Here, you’ll find insights into my teaching philosophy, research initiatives, leadership roles, and community engagement projects. I invite you to explore my work and join me in shaping the future of learning, innovation, and enterprise.

Let’s connect, collaborate, and drive meaningful change together.

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Leadership & University Administration

As Academic Leader for Community Engagement and Internationalisation at UKZN, Dr. van der Westhuizen chairs committees, mentors emerging academics, and leads research teams, promoting a collaborative academic culture.

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Teaching & Learning

Dr. van der Westhuizen focuses on innovative teaching methods, aligning outcomes, activities, and assessments to foster an engaging learning environment, while emphasizing understanding student learning processes.

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Research & Innovation

My research on entrepreneurship education and management is nationally and internationally recognized. She has a strong track record of supervising Master's and PhD students, bridging academic theory with practical applications.

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Academic Citizenship & Community Engagement

Dr. van der Westhuizen is actively involved in community engagement, organizing academic events, forming partnerships, and contributing to policy development to apply academic expertise for public benefit.

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Thea van der Westhuizen

Welcome to My World of Innovation, Leadership & Entrepreneurship

Hi, I'm Prof. Dr. Thea van der Westhuizen, an academic leader with a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and education. Over the last 20 years, I've empowered youth entrepreneurs and collaborated with leaders in both corporate and academic sectors.

I founded SHAPE to promote entrepreneurial thinking and have been recognized globally for my efforts. As the former International Director of Paddle for the Planet, I championed environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.

Currently, I lead at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, shaping the future of education and research. Join me in exploring my insights and experiences in entrepreneurship, education, and sustainable innovation.

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  • Teaching and Learning
  • Research and Innovation
  • Leadership and University Administration
  • Academic Citizenship (including Community engagement)