Stellenbosch University: Prof Peter van der Meer shares his view on the entrepreneurial way during a recent visit
The Strategy and Innovation focal area in the Department of Business Management had the honour of hosting Prof Peter O van der Meer from 15 to 23 September 2022. Prof van der Meer is a lecturer at Utrecht University’s School of Economics (USE) in the Netherlands. His fields of expertise include Entrepreneurship and Marketing with a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. He is also the author of several educational books on Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
Prof van der Meer presented lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Corporate Venturing. Our students thoroughly enjoyed his presentations and were able to gain valuable insights into the way that entrepreneurship is currently regarded in Europe. His passion resonated in how our students responded to his presentations. According to Mr Goosain Solomon and Ms Lelani Maree, lecturers in the focal area, this blend of knowledge is essential in enhancing our perspectives on entrepreneurship and small business development in South Africa, considering the importance of Entrepreneurship for us as a developing economy. However, the way to a successful Entrepreneurship is the Entrepreneurial mindset.
Prof van der Meer has visited the Department of Business Management several times before, as did some of his colleagues from the USE. The relationship between the Business Management Department and the USE dates back more than 15 years and has seen many fruitful lecturer exchanges. Colleagues from other focal areas such as Financial Management, Investment Management and Marketing Management also benefitted from Prof van der Meer’s extensive experience in the fields of intrapreneurship. “We were fortunate to have spent time with Prof van der Meer individually and collectively as the opportunity presented itself. During these engagements, we exchanged experiences of different contexts, insights and ideas”.