By Doh James Sonkey
The 6th edition of the Cameroon Students Ingenuity and Talent Contest better known by its French acronym GETEC 2024 will take place in the University of Douala from June 18 to 21, 2024 under the theme, “build synergy between the business world, university innovation and student entrepreneurship to foster corporate university.”
The announcement was made by Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo, during a joint press conference he granted alongside other members of government last June 12, 2024 in Yaounde. Present were the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Minister of Small and Medium size Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassiliken III, the Acting Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development in charge of Planning, Paul Tasong and the representative of the Minister of Finance who was his Technical Adviser.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof Fame Ndongo explained that “GETEC 2024 promises to be an exceptional window for innovation and rising Cameroon students’ enterprises. Students will present their tangible realisations of government policy aiming at promoting corporate university. The focus will be on junior enterprises and startups and it wants to stimulate the creation of an institutional platform dedicated to the financing of these students’ initiative.”
He said GETEC 2024 will have 3 modules: the national challenge of startups in university incubation, the national challenge of students’ research and innovation and trade fair of innovation and university entrepreneurship offering a space for exhibition of innovative products of high economic potential.
The acting Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry presented a series of measures which his ministry can accompany the students with, such as protecting their works etc.
A total of 598 public and private establishments are offering vocational training in Cameroon against 44 which are offering general education training. Among them are 500 private higher education establishments offering vocational training.