Applications Now Open for Raymond Ackerman Academy Entrepreneurship Programme

Applications are now open for the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development (RAA-ED), a six-month, full-time online programme designed to empower young people across Southern Africa with entrepreneurial skills and support. Delivered through the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg, the programme offers comprehensive training in business development, personal growth, and practical entrepreneurship, with full tuition scholarships provided by the Ackerman Family Foundation.

Programme Overview and Structure

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development Programme (RAA-ED) is a six-month, full-time online initiative hosted by the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg. The programme is designed for youth residing in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries who are passionate about entrepreneurship and committed to becoming economically active and socially responsible citizens.

Delivered entirely online from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00, the programme requires full-time participation and combines structured coursework, workshops, and practical activities to simulate real-world business environments. With an annual intake of approximately 60 to 160 students, admission is competitive and based on merit, involving a shortlisting process followed by panel interviews.

What Participants Gain

Successful applicants receive a comprehensive package of academic, practical, and financial support:

• Entrepreneurship Training: Covers business idea development and validation, innovation and strategy, marketing, human resources, accounting, operations, technology and digital transformation (including 4IR concepts), social media marketing, and business pitching techniques.
• Personal Development: Includes mental health and resilience training, communication and presentation skills, career readiness and professionalism, leadership, and teamwork.
• Financial Support: The full programme fee of R35,000 is covered by a tuition scholarship from the Ackerman Family Foundation.
• Qualification: Upon successful completion, participants earn a University of Johannesburg Short Learning Programme Certificate at NQF Level 4 equivalent.
• Experiential Learning: Workshops cover time management, presentation skills, career readiness, professionalism, inclusion and diversity, innovation, design thinking, digital transformation, and other topical subjects.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must be youth residing in South Africa or any SADC country. Applications are submitted online through the official programme portal. The selection process is merit-based, with shortlisted applicants progressing to panel interviews. The application deadline is 15 May 2026, as announced in the latest opportunity posting.

About the Raymond Ackerman Academy

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development was originally established in 2005 as a partnership between the Raymond Ackerman Foundation and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB). After 17 years of successful operation in Cape Town, the programme transitioned to a national online model in 2022 to reach a wider audience across Southern Africa. It is now delivered through the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg, continuing its mission to empower young entrepreneurs with practical skills and confidence to pursue ventures or career opportunities.

The Ackerman Family Foundation remains the primary funder, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent deserving youth from accessing this transformative opportunity. The programme’s evolution reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for greater impact while maintaining the core values of entrepreneurship education, personal development, and social responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the RAA-ED programme?

Youth residing in South Africa and the SADC countries of Southern Africa are eligible to apply. The programme targets young people passionate about entrepreneurship and committed to becoming economically active and socially responsible citizens.

Is there a cost to participate in the programme?

No, there is no cost to participants. The full tuition fee of R35,000 is covered by a scholarship from the Ackerman Family Foundation for all successful applicants.

What qualification do I receive upon completion?

Upon successful completion, participants earn a University of Johannesburg Short Learning Programme Certificate, which is recognised at NQF Level 4 equivalent.

How is the programme delivered?

The programme is delivered entirely online, requiring full-time participation from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00, over a six-month period. It includes structured coursework, workshops, and practical activities designed to simulate real-world business environments.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 15 May 2026.

Key Takeaways

• The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development offers a free, six-month, full-time online programme for youth in South Africa and SADC countries.

• Participants receive comprehensive training in entrepreneurship, personal development, and practical business skills, with all tuition costs covered by scholarship.

• Upon completion, graduates earn a recognised NQF Level 4 equivalent certificate from the University of Johannesburg.

• The programme is merit-based, with applications open until 15 May 2026 for the upcoming intake.

Conclusion

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development represents a significant opportunity for young people across Southern Africa to access high-quality entrepreneurship education without financial barriers. By combining practical business training with personal development support and leveraging an online format for nationwide reach, the programme continues to fulfill its mission of empowering youth to become economically active and socially responsible citizens. With applications open until 15 May 2026, aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and grab the first step toward transforming their ideas into viable ventures or career paths.

Applications Now Open for Raymond Ackerman Academy Entrepreneurship Programme

Applications are now open for the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development (RAA-ED), a six-month, full-time online programme designed to empower young people across Southern Africa with entrepreneurial skills and support. Delivered through the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg, the programme offers comprehensive training in business development, personal growth, and practical entrepreneurship, with full tuition scholarships provided by the Ackerman Family Foundation.

Programme Overview and Structure

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development Programme (RAA-ED) is a six-month, full-time online initiative hosted by the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg. The programme is designed for youth residing in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries who are passionate about entrepreneurship and committed to becoming economically active and socially responsible citizens.

Delivered entirely online from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00, the programme requires full-time participation and combines structured coursework, workshops, and practical activities to simulate real-world business environments. With an annual intake of approximately 60 to 160 students, admission is competitive and based on merit, involving a shortlisting process followed by panel interviews.

What Participants Gain

Successful applicants receive a comprehensive package of academic, practical, and financial support:

• Entrepreneurship Training: Covers business idea development and validation, innovation and strategy, marketing, human resources, accounting, operations, technology and digital transformation (including 4IR concepts), social media marketing, and business pitching techniques.
• Personal Development: Includes mental health and resilience training, communication and presentation skills, career readiness and professionalism, leadership, and teamwork.
• Financial Support: The full programme fee of R35,000 is covered by a tuition scholarship from the Ackerman Family Foundation.
• Qualification: Upon successful completion, participants earn a University of Johannesburg Short Learning Programme Certificate at NQF Level 4 equivalent.
• Experiential Learning: Workshops cover time management, presentation skills, career readiness, professionalism, inclusion and diversity, innovation, design thinking, digital transformation, and other topical subjects.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must be youth residing in South Africa or any SADC country. Applications are submitted online through the official programme portal. The selection process is merit-based, with shortlisted applicants progressing to panel interviews. The application deadline is 15 May 2026, as announced in the latest opportunity posting.

About the Raymond Ackerman Academy

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development was originally established in 2005 as a partnership between the Raymond Ackerman Foundation and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB). After 17 years of successful operation in Cape Town, the programme transitioned to a national online model in 2022 to reach a wider audience across Southern Africa. It is now delivered through the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg, continuing its mission to empower young entrepreneurs with practical skills and confidence to pursue ventures or career opportunities.

The Ackerman Family Foundation remains the primary funder, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent deserving youth from accessing this transformative opportunity. The programme’s evolution reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for greater impact while maintaining the core values of entrepreneurship education, personal development, and social responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the RAA-ED programme?

Youth residing in South Africa and the SADC countries of Southern Africa are eligible to apply. The programme targets young people passionate about entrepreneurship and committed to becoming economically active and socially responsible citizens.

Is there a cost to participate in the programme?

No, there is no cost to participants. The full tuition fee of R35,000 is covered by a scholarship from the Ackerman Family Foundation for all successful applicants.

What qualification do I receive upon completion?

Upon successful completion, participants earn a University of Johannesburg Short Learning Programme Certificate, which is recognised at NQF Level 4 equivalent.

How is the programme delivered?

The programme is delivered entirely online, requiring full-time participation from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00, over a six-month period. It includes structured coursework, workshops, and practical activities designed to simulate real-world business environments.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 15 May 2026.

Key Takeaways

• The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development offers a free, six-month, full-time online programme for youth in South Africa and SADC countries.
• Participants receive comprehensive training in entrepreneurship, personal development, and practical business skills, with all tuition costs covered by scholarship.
• Upon completion, graduates earn a recognised NQF Level 4 equivalent certificate from the University of Johannesburg.
• The programme is merit-based, with applications open until 15 May 2026 for the upcoming intake.

Conclusion

The Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development represents a significant opportunity for young people across Southern Africa to access high-quality entrepreneurship education without financial barriers. By combining practical business training with personal development support and leveraging an online format for nationwide reach, the programme continues to fulfill its mission of empowering youth to become economically active and socially responsible citizens. With applications open until 15 May 2026, aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and take the first step toward transforming their ideas into viable ventures or career paths.