More than 10,000 students across South Africa have been equipped with practical career-readiness skills as the University Kick Start Roadshow concludes its first national campus tour, reaching 17 institutions across five provinces and bringing workplace preparation directly to students before they graduate.

 

Launched on 3 August 2026 by entrepreneur and multi-award-winning professional Boitumelo Motsepe, the two-month national roadshow delivered practical career-readiness conversations designed to help students navigate the transition from university into the workplace.

 

The tour reached students at some of South Africa’s leading varsities, including the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, Nelson Mandela University, University of the Western Cape and North-West University, as well as Emeris, alongside other higher education institutions across the country.

Throughout the national tour, students engaged with practical topics aimed at strengthening their preparedness for the world of work. These included CV development, personal branding, portfolio building, networking, job applications, professional communication, workplace etiquette and the responsible use of AI-powered career tools.

Beyond the presentations, the roadshow created spaces for students to engage directly with a professional, ask questions about entering the workplace and gain insight into what employers look for when assessing emerging talent. At Eduvos, the programme was further expanded through a career fair, panel discussion and campus talk, providing students with additional opportunities to connect with professionals and explore potential career pathways.

 

For many students, the conversations addressed a critical stage in their development the gap between being academically qualified and being prepared to navigate the realities of the workplace. By taking these conversations directly onto campuses, Kick Start placed greater emphasis on the practical skills, professional behaviours and personal positioning that can support students as they move from education into employment.

For Boitumelo Motsepe, Founder of the Kick Start Roadshow, the scale of the national rollout reinforced the importance of starting career-readiness conversations before students reach graduation.

 

“For me, this is about giving young people a better chance at their future. With so many young people struggling to find employment, I want students to leave this programme feeling more prepared for the workplace but also empowered to create opportunities for themselves through entrepreneurship. Ultimately, the vision is to help build a more empowered and economically active generation, one ambitious student at a time.” says Boitumelo.

The national rollout was made possible through the support and collaboration of a number of partners who contributed to bringing the roadshow experience to campuses across the country. Volkswagen (VW) South Africa, Reboost, Canderel, Rhodes Juice, Motsepe Advertising, and Content Factory supported the initiative through production, mobility and activation support, helping create an engaging and accessible experience for students throughout the tour.

The 2026 tour marks the first national rollout of University Kick Start, expanding the initiative from individual campus engagements into a nationwide platform focused on preparing students for the transition from education to the workplace.

 

As the 2026 campus tour concludes, the roadshow leaves behind more than a series of campus engagements. It has contributed to a broader conversation around the importance of preparing students for the workplace before graduation, encouraging them to build relevant skills, develop professional networks, understand employer expectations and take greater ownership of their career journeys.