MBA Module on B-BBEE to enhance transformation

In a landmark higher education initiative, the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which will introduce an academic module on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) in order to lead and enhance thought leadership on economic transformation in South Africa. 

A leading institution of higher learning, GIBS is the business school of the University of Pretoria and the NEF is a development financier mandated by the Department of Trade and Industry to drive the implementation of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.

In accordance with the MOA, the NEF will make an initial endowment of R1.2 million to GIBS which will be used by the business school to introduce an elective module on B-BBEE as part of its MBA curriculum from 2011. It is the intention of both parties that the module will be integrated into the core curriculum of the GIBS MBA programmes in future.

The endowment will also help to ensure that B-BBEE issues and their effect on society are researched by leading GIBS faculty. GIBS will offer a series of forums, workshops, seminars and an annual conference to generate interest in B-BBEE among stakeholders.

Sam Tsima has been appointed as Programme Manager: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.

Commenting at the signing of the MOA Professor Nick Binedell, director of GIBS, said: “At GIBS we clearly understand B-BBEE as a specific policy to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy. The developing economy has to be built on full participation by all its people and communities. The MBA programme is the right qualification within which to locate a module on B-BBEE and our partnership with the NEF is a confirmation of our commitment to this policy.”

-           Press release

Meet with the admissions staff of Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg (29 March) and Nairobi (31 March) at the QS MBA World Tour. Register for free online:

http://www.topmba.com/mba-tour/Johannesburg?partnerid=4511

http://www.topmba.com/mba-tour/Nairobi?partnerid=4517 

Top European business schools arrive in Johannesburg to recruit African candidates

According to the latest QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2010, there has been a 19.9% rise in the number of MBA candidates from Africa and the Middle East selecting UK, Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland as their preferred study destination from 2009-2010. In the same year, the number of candidates choosing the US as their preferred study destination dropped considerably from 71.1% to 60.4%. Germany has also become the fifth most preferred destination for the region’s MBA candidates, displacing France.

Ross Geraghty, managing editor of the TopMBA Career Guide says: “What is surprising about these MBA study destination preferences is the disparity between MBA applicants in different regions. The US is no longer dominant and more and more European countries are at the top of people’s lists. Germany has risen to prominence in recent years, especially among candidates from Africa and the Middle East.”

Nick Barniville, MBA director at ESMT European School of Management and Technology believes Germany’s high employment figures play a significant part in its popularity: "With its growing number of high-quality MBA programs, Germany is a prime destination for MBA candidates. The chance for employment after graduation is high. Over 90% of MBA students who graduated in December 2009 were in employment by March 2010. Over 60% of these graduates found employment in Germany."

To meet this growing demand for European MBA programmes, some of the world’s best business schools in Europe such as Vlerick, ESMT, IE, IMD and ESSEC Business School among others from around world will be travelling with the QS World MBA Tour to Johannesburg on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 to meet and recruit some of the country’s best candidates. Candidates can register on www.topmba.com/mba-tour. Registration is free.

For more information, contact:

Barak Cerff
barak@qs.com
+27 (011) 867 3466

QS World MBA Tour               

The QS World MBA Tour is the world’s largest series of recruitment and information fairs for business school applicants. In 2010, over 60,000 MBA candidates registered to visit 85 events in 66 cities in 42 countries.

The QS World MBA Tour offers a unique opportunity to meet admissions officers of the world's most influential business schools at venues around the world. Now in its seventeenth year, the Tour will consist of 83 events across 42 countries over five continents during 2011. 

The QS World MBA Tour will visit Johannesburg at The Michelangelo Hotel, Sandton on Tuesday the 29th of March 2011.