USB-ED

Use gap-year to become an entrepreneur

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The idea of a gap-year, typically to do odd jobs in London, Europe or elsewhere, has become the “in thing” among school-leavers because many are still uncertain as to what they want to do and achieve in life. Even after such a gap-year more often than not many still don’t know what they want to do. That is because such a year is not always structured with guidance to accompany it.

In order to overcome this, the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), has developed an entrepreneur’s programme in order to make such a gap-year as productive as possible.

The programme is to be presented in Stellenbosch from 6 February and Lynwood, Pretoria from 20 February this year.

The programme is not only aimed at school-leavers, but also at students who have terminated their studies, as well as young graduates who want to create their own employment opportunities.

According to the gap-year programme leader at USB-ED, DeWet Schoeman, the idea is to encourage and elucidate entrepreneurial thinking in participants of the programme. It will teach them how to create and identify their own opportunities for a possible future career.

“The idea is not that participants should establish a business directly upon conclusion of the programme. The focus is rather to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and to help a person to find its feet, to get to know him or herself and in which direction to go in life,” said Schoeman.

The programme, which is presented over a period of ten months, comprises of two phases.

The first phase, which is more theoretical in nature and during which three morning classes per week will have to be attended, covers three areas of development. The first deals mainly with self-discovery and what a person expects from life. The second deals with development of entrepreneurial thought, and how to identify opportunities and to capitalise on them in a way that creates prosperity for oneself and others. Thirdly, it comprises of the basic principles and skills needed to establish a small to medium enterprise and manage it.

The learning process will be reinforced by a process of life-coaching through which participants will be assisted to understand and accept themselves and others, to overcome challenges and to accept personal challenges.

The second phase is more practical in nature and offers participants the opportunity to put that what they learnt in the first phase, into practice.
While support will be given in the identification of job and other development opportunities, it is the participants who will be primarily responsible for exposure to the world of work and business in areas that they themselves have identified.

During this phase it will be expected from participants to develop a personal life plan, as well as a business plan for a business idea of their own choice. This plan must be presented to a panel for final evaluation. It will also be expected of participants to report back regularly on their experiences and development.

It is possible to undertake the second phase of the programme while working in London or elsewhere, with report-backs done over the internet.

The ‘adventure’ of going overseas is therefore not discouraged. By doing it with the knowledge of yourself, skills and entrepreneurial expertise, a participant will be far better equipped to get more value from this for the future.

Participants will be required to present a business plan by the end of the programme in order to qualify for a certificate in entrepreneurship and business management.

“A gap-year does not have to be a year of survival, but rather one that is structured and filled with discovery and excitement,” Schoeman said.

For more information, visit the Gap-year Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management page.

USB-ED to be offering new part-time programmes over weekends in 2012

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Busy professionals in the Western Cape will now have the opportunity to enrol for management development programmes that are presented by USB Executive Development (USB-ED) over weekends.

The part-time Management Development Programme (MDP) and Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) will now be presented on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. It is also the first time that USB-ED's SMDP will be presented on a part-time basis.

The MDP brings real business benefits to middle managers and their organisations by providing a broader understanding of management and leadership. The SMDP, on the other hand, is specifically aimed at senior managers from any industry who focus more on operations than on strategy and are eager to benchmark their abilities and further their potential.

The MDP will be presented from 17 February to 15 June 2012 and the SMDP from 16 March to 30 June 2012. The venue for both programmes is the USB campus in Bellville, Cape Town.

The new times will make it possible for executives who travel often, to participate in a comprehensive programme over the weekend without interrupting their work commitments.

View USB-ED's full 2012 programme line-up here.

The science of NeuroLeadership to make debut in SA

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:00:00 GMT

International research and expertise in the neuroscience of leadership are set to come to South African and the African continent.

The discipline of NeuroLeadership, based on American and Australian research and know-how, is geared towards helping individuals and organisations to fulfil their potential through a better understanding how the human brain functions at individual, team and systemic levels.

This expertise will now be brought to South Africa for the first time through the joining of forces of USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and The NeuroLeadership Group SA, the African division of an internationally acclaimed Australian consulting company. Most of the research on neuroleadership is done in America.

The NeuroLeadership Group SA CEO, Mary-Joe Emde, said that South Africa have some skilful scientists locally and overseas in this field of study. The aim is also to bring this knowledge especially to Africa.

In collaboration with the NeuroLeadership Institute, a non-profit organization, USB-ED and The NeuroLeadership Group will next year be offering the first Certificate in Neuroleadership in South Africa. This will be supplemented by a commercial partnership between the two executive development companies to introduce the neuroleadership discipline to leaders of organisations and to make accessible.

The neuroleadership material is packaged it in such a way that an organisation can implement it effectively and with ease. There are four domains of focus that are explored by the neuroscience:

Decision making and problem solving
Staying cool under pressure
Collaborating with others
Facilitating change

According to USB-ED CEO, Frik Landman, Neuroleadership is an emerging field of study, through which neuroscientific knowledge is brought into the areas of leadership development, management training, change management, consulting and coaching.

The partnership consists of The NeuroLeadership Group providing all the tools and information to USB-ED NeuroLeadership programmes and USB-ED the expertise in the business school environment.

The new NeuroLeadership programme takes place against the background of USB-ED’s 10th anniversary this year, which was marked by a number of achievements. One of the achievements was that USB-ED was the only executive education provider in Africa to be ranked one of the top 50 schools in the world by the recent Financial Times Executive Education 2011 World Ranking.

The first study school in NeuroLeadership will take place in April 2012 and the second in June 2012.

For more information click on this link: Certificate in NeuroLeadership

No quick fix to save our cities

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

After sharing views with USB-ED’s Arnold Smit, executive head of the Centre for Business in Society, on a domestic inter-city plane trip, Ian Ollis wrote an article on the future of South African cities for The Daily Maverick. Ollis believes that urban sprawl – and its social implications – constitutes a global crisis, and is rapidly approaching disastrous proportions in South Africa. Read his opinion piece here.

Gap-year students produce marketing video

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Two of USB-ED’s first group of Gap-Year entrepreneurs, are the creative forces behind the newly launched video campaign that is aimed at reaching a younger market for the Gap-Year Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management. With the message: “Create your own opportunities”, Devan Swanepoel and Charl Laubscher produced, directed and starred in the video. We chatted to them to find out more.

Why did you decide to make it?

Devan (lead actor in the video):
“We were the first group to participate in USB-ED’s Gap-Year. We noticed that the advertisement for the course did not speak directly to the target market so we thought of making viral ads than would grab the attention of the right people in need of a good educational experience!”

Charl (producer and director):
“Being an entrepreneurial course, we jumped at the opportunity to get some experience and haven’t looked back since.”

What went into the making of the video?
Devan:
“Shooting an ad generally involves a lot of planning and organising to the finest detail. I think all of us learned a great deal while we were busy with this project.”

Charl:
“We spent about a month getting together every evening to plan the script and work out a budget for what it would cost. This included a lot of arguing, rewriting and more rewriting. The advert was shot over one day at the campus. We had a close call when Terence, our cinematographer, started falling down a flight of stairs with R100 000 worth of equipment on his shoulder in the first scene’s shoot. Luckily some brave souls were there to stop him in the nick of time.”

How did you take over the campus for the making?
Devan:
“We Informed the USB staff before we started the shoot. Everyone was pretty helpful and supportive! People generally do not ask questions when you have a camera in your hand, the majority are camera shy.”

Charl:
“USB-ED was very accepting and let us shoot wherever we needed to for as long as we needed to. So, it was really a breeze.”

Who helped you?

Devan:
“We had a lot of help and support from friends and family as well as USB-ED (thank you).”

Charl:
“Everyone on the crew pulled their weight tremendously. I was very impressed at how smoothly the whole production went. From USB-ED’s side I must say a big thank you to De Wet Schoeman for all the assistance he offered us. We are very grateful to everyone that helped in any way, from the marketing department at USB-ED to the extras that rocked up on the day. There were a total of five guys involved in the production: Vinko Tomasic (Editor), Terence Loydall (Cinematographer), Eugene Havenga (Sound), Charl Laubscher (Producer, Director), Devan Swanepoel (Lead Actor).”

What has the Gap-Year Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management meant for you?
Devan:
“I am very happy that I found and attended this programme. I have learned so much about myself and of what I can achieve. USB-ED has taught me that the world is an ‘opportunity-train’ and one should just get on board! I highly recommend it for any student/individual who doesn’t know where they are going with their life and who wants to be more business educated.”

Charl:
“It has helped me to take what I have always wanted to do with my life and focus that into an actual plan. This advert was a great platform to get going. It has been extremely helpful to me.”

Where to next?
Devan:
“I think this was a good learning curve for me and for the team. All of us learned a lot by taking on this project. The lessons we have learned during this process we can apply to new businesses or projects in our future business careers – maybe we could even start a production company?”

Charl:
“My plan is to start my own production company that focuses on making affordable and creative videos and adverts for both organisations and individuals who want to use the internet and viral marketing methods to promote their business. If anyone needs anything filmed and made into something super epic, then you know who to call!”

Most ever female executives on EDP

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Front row: Virginia Nkobi, Helen Botes, Rhomona Gounden, Cynthia Brown-Medell, Louise de Jongh, Tanya Gilpin
Back row: Mara Uazenga, Sulette van Graan, Fahiema Dyers, Mpule Malema-Ditirwa, Roswitha Becker, Libertha Kapere
Absent: Ratonda Murangikatjivikua

If the record number of female enrolments on this year’s Executive Development Programme (EDP) is anything to go by, the gender composition of senior management is shifting. So says Dr Sarah Riordan, learning process facilitator (LFP) on the programme. “It has been wonderful to have so many women on the most senior programme. They have contributed positively to the learning process.”

This year’s EDP women all hold senior positions in their various organisations. Roswitha Becker is a senior manager who runs a subsidiary of Lufthansa German Airlines. She shares that women at a high level are used to being one of only a few among their male counterparts. She goes on to say that women instinctively see things in a more connected way: “This programme provides the opportunity to raise important issues at a higher level, as well as to challenge your belief system.” Fahiema Dyers, category manager at the Ceres Beverage Company, agrees: “Many companies are moving into a new way of seeing business as part of society, and [contemplating] how they can incorporate the sustainability aspect more widely.”

According to Tanya Gilpin, who heads up Transactional Banking at Standard Bank, the biggest challenge women face is work-life balance: “The EDP helped me to gain perspective and to realise that we need to take ownership of our lives and careers.” Louise de Jongh, group manager: Human Capital at Foskor, found the wealth of experience in the room “incredibly enriching”. Libertha Kapere agrees: “The best part of this programme, is sharing best practices with peers.”

It must never stop

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Source: Finweek 25 August 2011, page 55

Africa has an insatiable hunger for knowledge and requires the necessary stimulus to develop responsible leaders and leadership. "As in the rest of the world, the landscape of the community is strongly formed and refined by the business environment. That's the position of the community leaders in Africa today - and they need the skills to be able to handle that landscape better," says Frik Landman, CEO of USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). The USB-ED, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year, was recently the one business school in Africa to be classified in a combined category of the world's top 50 business schools in the Financial Times Executive Education 2011 World Ranking.

Landman says there's now an emerging younger guard in Africa tired of the old way of doing business: making a profit at any cost. It's a group not only concerned about the community environment but also about nature. They're also hungry for a different kind of knowledge formerly regarded as the alpha and omega.

"It's sometimes assumed Africa doesn't have the capacity to provide this kind of knowledge. However, four of the 65 business schools placed on its list by the Financial Times were from Africa. If you bear in mind there are around 7 000 business schools worldwide, that's a confirmation of Africa's ability."

Landman says the USB-ED is determined to get further business schools in Africa included in the list by developing contacts and partnerships with the rest of Africa. "These are the platforms that permit leaders in Africa to meet, to learn from one another and to develop further to the benefit of their own countries and the African continent." Landman says.

Countries in Africa where the USB-ED has an established footprint are Namibia, Botswana, Saudi Arabia and Tanzania, with Kenya and Zimbabwe the next two focal points.

Landman says over the past few years the USB-ED has taken a close look at the balance between the content of programmes and the process of how information is carried over to programme participants. "Sometimes the focus falls on the course content - and that's usually driven by specific and well-known 'superstar' experts. The focus is then on the specific expert. And there's also competition with other experts to fill that particular training space."

That often resulted in the process of conveying information being neglected in the midst of all that competition.

"But we live in the information age," says Landman. "For example, information is available everywhere on the Internet. Content only offers you access to the 'stadium', it's not the 'game'. The game is the process of converting information into action."

The shift in the USB-ED's focus to obtain a balance between content and process began yielding results especially over the past year. Though content remains important it's not where the focus should fall. "The important thing is the learning process and how the information is shared and facilitated so it ultimately cultivates leadership. It helps if knowledge makes sense in practice," Landman says.

When a programme is designed it's essential to consider the person who receives the information and ultimately has to process it. The USB-ED's view is that the most important "participant" in any programme is the natural environment, followed by the community, then the organisation and, fourth, the individual.

Landman says though the individual sits in the classroom, that person represents the company, the community and the natural environment in which he's present. It's not only the individual being developed: it also filters through to the other facets of the environment.

However, the programmes offered by USB-ED must be distinguished from the normal MBA. Landman says the MBA is the kind of qualification relevant at a certain stage of someone's career. And it's completed in a few years.

If a person has made some progress in a corporate career, an MBA - which covers a generic spectrum of subject areas - doesn't always make sense. However, management development isn't bound to time; it doesn't have a "sell-by" date. It can precede an MBA, take the place of an MBA for people who aren't all that academically inclined, line up next to an MBA or even come after an MBA.

"Though the two kinds of training are very close together and complementary, they serve different purposes," Landman says. "You can't say one is better than the other; it depends on the participant's circumstances and choices." Management development is essentially a part of professional development - in fact, it should never stop.

USB-ED bags go “green”

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

All participants in USB-ED programmes will in future receive sustainable study-material bags, made by Learn to Earn, a skills development organisation that works with unemployed people from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The social responsibility venture was launched early in 2011. “Changing our bags from synthetic to a sustainable product – cotton – will result in increased job creation, skills development and poverty alleviation,” says Gail Vertue, USB-ED’s Logistics and Administration Manager.

The new bags are made from 100% cotton with a hessian strap. “We use natural fibres to make up our product so that they have a minimal impact on the environment”, says Andrew Lane, manager of the Business Resource Centre at Learn to Earn.

The organisation runs a job creation programme to develop unemployed people by facilitating business opportunities, job creation and access to economic ponds. The communities Learn to Earn serves are previously disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape. Lane shares: “The skills, momentum and learning that we have achieved from producing a line of bags such as this has enabled us to improve the facility, training and outcomes of our business centre. These bags are manufactured at our organisation here in Khayelitsha. We recognise that people need to be given access to resources and that they need support to become self-sustaining.”

Gail Vertue shows a sustainable study-material bag

USB-ED celebrates tenth anniversary with top world ranking

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

USB Executive Development’s 10th anniversary year was marked by a number of achievements, of which one outstanding is the degree of recognition from the marketplace and from other international schools and institutions.

This stems from the fact that USB Executive Development (USB-ED) was the only executive education provider in Africa to be ranked one of the top 50 schools in the world by the recent Financial Times Executive Education 2011 World Ranking, says USB-ED CEO Frik Landman in the company’s 2011 annual review.

USB-ED is the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB).

Amidst a challenging business environment during 2010, USB-ED continued to reinforce its position as a top tier executive development organisation in ten African countries, as well as in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“The Rest of Africa market is still very much untapped, but demands deeper understanding and different approaches and models. We succeeded significantly in Namibia and we are currently achieving similar successes in Botswana. The Saudi market is full of promise though the cultural challenges need to be met,” Landman said. A vision of a learning network shared with local partners in East, West and Central Africa is also important for USB-ED.

Transformation and empowerment has been part of USB-ED since the company's inception in 2001. In 2007, USB-ED entered into a black economic empowerment deal with businessman Vincent Raseroka and WIPHOLD, a company focusing on the empowerment of women. This was marked by the sale of 26% of USB-ED shares, with the University of Stellenbosch remaining the majority shareholder.
Being deeply rooted in business, USB-ED was the first executive development company with a business relationship to a university to obtain BEE accreditation and maintains a B-BBEE Level 3 status.

USB-ED chairperson, Ms Louisa Mojela, said it is marvellous the company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It all started with a sense that there is a void between the needs of business and what academic institutions could offer.

To meet this we joined hands with the USB to establish a private, equity-funded company that would be part of the USB, but would operate as an independent business governed by its own board of directors.

“How rewarding it is to see a big dream realised,” she said.

At a loss for words

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Source: Financial Mail

Untapped Micro-insurance Market Provides Vast Opportunities

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

South Africa has a huge untapped micro-insurance market, which provides insurance companies with vast opportunities to sell low-cost insurance products. It is estimated that less than 30% of low-income adults in South Africa have any form of insurance, while in the rest of Africa the untapped market for micro-insurance could be as much as 40% of the adult population.

African insurance markets (excluding South Africa) typically contribute no more than 2% of GDP and serve less than 5% of the population. Insurance companies in these markets tend to fight for market share in an already-served market, without looking outward to grow their market share. Experiments and experiences suggest that there is much value to be realised from the low-income market.

It is with this in mind that USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), and the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) has joined forces to present a programme in Micro-insurance Business Strategies for African Markets.

The programme, which will also have an international flavor with input from the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Microinsurance Innovation Facility with regard to the micro-insurance market, is to be presented from 26 to 28 July in Cape Town.

Cenfri director, Anja Smith, said insurance companies in most African markets have traditionally targeted only the top 5% or in some cases, even fewer of the adult population. The need has now arisen for companies to adjust their overall business strategy to realise the financial potential in low-income markets.
“To do this, companies have to realise that insurance policies cannot simply be a low-value replica of what they provide for the higher-income market. They need to be able to address the needs of the low-income market in a unique way.

“A good understanding is needed of the economic circumstances of the low-income market, the way finances are managed and their overall financial needs.

“Serious consideration should also be given to the best way to communicate with the targeted market. Marketing and education should go hand in hand,” Smith said.

For companies to extend their reach in the micro-insurance market, the following will be required:

The development of alternative distribution channels that reach beyond, the broker, agent and employment networks;
The development of products that fit the profiles and needs of the low-income clients;
Successful navigation of increasingly complex and uncertain regulatory environments; and
A fundamental reinvention of the delivery of insurance.

The programme is aimed at banking and insurance professionals, mobile network operators, retailers and technology providers, policymakers, consultants, expert advisers and researchers in the areas of micro-insurance or low-income financial services.

For more information click here.

Executive development success: Story of Asharuf Moorad

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

When talent and opportunity meets, something special is bound to happen. The story of Asharuf Moorad, branch manager for ADT Security in the Boland Region, highlights the role executive education can play in achieving a successful career path.

In 2005, Asharuf began working as an insurance liaison and investigations manager for ADT Security. Three years later, he was approached by management to train for general management and was given a new temporary title as trainee manager. He then enrolled for USB-ED’s Management Development Programme (MDP). Asharuf shares: “It was a real eye-opener. I never realised that scholars had put together actual terms for things we were dealing with on a day to day basis. Words like ‘paradigm shift’ were new to me, but it very appropriately described specifics that we were working towards. I remained focused while on my learning expedition and in the end I was near top of the class and received two distinctions, one for Financial Management and one for Marketing. This was well received by my senior management team.”

Back at the office, Asharuf was then put on a rotation roster to get a feel for each department. The idea was to prepare him to be able to take up any role within the organisation. “However, I had just finished my final submission for the MDP when I got a call from our general manager at the time (now our managing director). He gave me a brand new assignment: to run the ADT Paarl branch for a period of three months. My response was: ‘Sure; when do I start?’ Admittedly, I was half-baked at the time as I had not had the opportunity to experience each of the departments and still needed a lot of learning, but with the principles that I picked up during the MDP together with the guidance and coaching I received from senior management, I could hit the ground running.”

When the Boland position became vacant, his application was successful. He was appointed as the Boland branch manager, responsible for the Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek areas. He is also currently overseeing the Hermanus branch until such time that a suitable candidate is appointed as the new Hermanus branch manager. When asked how he handles all the travelling, he says: “I drive with motivation. My family is my number one motivator.” His next goal is to enrol for USB’s MBA.

USB Executive Development ranked in top 50 worldwide

Wed, 11 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), was ranked one of the top 50 executive schools in the world by the Financial Times Executive Education 2011 World Ranking.

The Financial Times annual ranking evaluates schools' customised executive education programs, open-enrolment programs, and a combined ranking for schools.

With a 49th combined ranking, the USB-ED was the only South African and African executive school to receive a top 50 placing. International partners of USB-ED, Center for Creative Leadership and Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, were ranked 6th and 35rd respectively.

The top-ranked schools on the combined ranking are HEC Paris, Harvard Business School and Iese Business School.

In the customised programmes category, USB-ED received high rankings in follow-up actions, international clients and partner schools. In the open-enrolment category the institution received high rankings in women participation, international participants and international location.

USB-ED CEO, Frik Landman, said: “The fact that we are the only business school on the African continent that is ranked under the top 50 in combined rankings of open and customised programmes is a clear indication of our ability to compete with the best of the world.”

Business and the language of sustainability

Wed, 04 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Three concepts are growing in prominence in our business vocabulary: sustainability, responsibility and accountability.

Sustainability expresses the acknowledgement that the footprint of our economic activities has simply become too heavy for our planet to sustain us for much longer. Within this context responsibility addresses the standards that we agree to apply and steps that we implement in order to align our impact to what is socially and environmentally responsible. Accountability is about recognising the right of society to know what we are doing to help safeguard the future for the next generation.

This seismic shift in history that we stand on puts business in a very precarious position. On the one hand companies are needed to generate wealth to sustain society and secure the livelihoods of people. On the other hand they are accused of being complicit for the state that the planet is in. It is awkward to be saviour and villain at the same time. Development cannot stop, but consumption at current levels cannot continue.

This conundrum defines a number of dilemmas for executives. Questions like the following occupy the executive mind:

How do we manage the competing demands of shareholders and stakeholders?
How do we reconcile competitiveness and profitability with this era of sustainability?
We know how to count the financial bottom-line, but how do we account for the impact on people and planet?
How do we secure the image and reputation of the firm in this era of activism for social and environmental responsibility?

Together with these fundamental business questions there is at the same time a proliferation of sustainability related standards that business performance increasingly gets measured against. The language of the age of sustainability is packaged in these standards: the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact, the AA1000 AccountAbility Principles Standard (AA1000APS), the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000, the AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS), to name a few. In South Africa there are furthermore, amongst others, the King Report on Corporate Governance and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Socially Responsible Investment Index (JSE SRI).
The trend is clear: the demand for integrated sustainability reporting and assurance will just increase. The scope of it is already circling out to include SME’s and the non-profit sector as well. In the future it will determine business opportunities and market perceptions and companies will start putting pressure on their supply chains.

Instead of avoiding sustainability reporting and assurance, companies will do better to become proactive and reap the low hanging fruits of it. There are examples around of businesses that have done it and gained in both profitability and social capital.

USB Executive Development Ltd has sensed the need for companies to become more skilled in the area of business and sustainability and has established a Centre for Business in Society. One aspect of it is to become better acquainted with the fundamentals and learning about the principles codes and standards for effective sustainability reporting and reporting assurance. A range of programmes are available to answer this particular need. The other side of the coin is to ensure that sustainability becomes part of the everyday business language, that it becomes embedded in strategy and that management and staff see the value, both in terms of the financial bottom-line and the public goodwill that results from good corporate citizenship. A number of programmes fulfil in this particular need.

Dr Arnold Smit
Programme Director - USB-ED Centre for Business in Society
Email
Website

USB-ED introduces world’s most scientific coaching methodology to corporates

Tue, 03 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

USB Executive Development (USB-ED) and the NeuroLeadership Group have established a partnership that will integrate neuroleadership and brain-based coaching into leadership development. The new alliance will make an even greater comprehensive leadership development offering available to organisations.

The NeuroLeadership Group (also still known as Results Workplace Coaching, or RWPC) is a global human performance consultancy, with operations in 39 cities in over 24 countries. Drawing from the latest findings in Neuroscience, the NeuroLeadership Group partners with organisations to help leaders enhance their effectiveness by understanding the brain. The organisations with which it works include NASA, Citibank and Google, as well as many government departments.

Coaching has become globally recognised as an essential facet of modern corporate leadership development and is an invaluable tool for growing talent within an organisation, whether as an academic input or as a supporting tool that forms part of another programme. The NeuroLeadership Group is the only organisation in South Africa that is eligible to train and facilitate the intellectual property of the NeuroLeadership Institute.

To find out more about USB-ED and the Leadership Group, please visit www.usb-ed.com, www.resultscoaches.com and www.resultsworkplacecoaching.co.za respectively.

World Bank Group selects USB-ED faculty member as mediator

Mon, 02 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Prof Barney Jordaan, faculty member of USB-ED and head of the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement at the USB, has been selected to serve as a mediator with the World Bank Group Office of Mediation Services (MEF). The contract appointment with the Bank constitutes international recognition of the work done by the USB’s Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement in the area of mediation and dispute resolution.

The role of mediators within the World Bank Group’s mediation offices is to assist the bank’s country offices in Africa with their dispute resolution needs. This includes mediation, facilitation and training. A small number of mediators are selected to assist the bank as external consultants on the basis of their extensive knowledge of workplace and labour law, civil rights law, dispute resolution theory, and practice and mediation. A contract appointment also provides a potential springboard to the mediation offices of a number of other international organisations, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the United Nations’s Ombudsman and Mediation Services office and the Africa Development Bank.

Prof Jordaan has been invited to attend a special one-week training session on the bank’s dispute resolution processes and practices in Washington, DC during October 2011. Trainers include members of the UN’s Ombudsman and Mediation Services office.

Prof Jordaan presents two programmes at USB-ED: the Programme in Commercial Negotiation and the Master Class in Designing a Deal.

Business Coaching - New Career Opportunity in Fast Growing Industry

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Business coaching is considered as one of fastest growing industries in the world. It is a subject that is becoming a well-defined practice for individuals and organisations, providing people with the necessary skills with a new career path or opportunity.

According to the online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, it is estimated that 40 000 people in America worked as business or life coaches in 2007, with a $2,4 billion business coaching market growing at about 18% per year.

In South Africa coaching has become one of the essential skills for leaders, managers and those in support professions who need to deal diplomatically and professionally with others concerning issues of a personal or sensitive nature. Coaching adds immense value to business in the form of better performance, higher motivation and increased empowerment.

Coaching should however not be confused with something like mentoring, which is basically showing someone how to do something well, or training which is teaching someone how to do things. Coaching revolves around a person’s personal growth and skill development, for an individual to perform at the best of his ability and to be independent.

To provide for this, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), is offering a Certificate in Coaching Practice with the aim to offer a benchmark for a new generation of coaches who which to develop a professional coaching career.

According to USB-ED users of coaching services require qualified coaches with a strong theoretical foundation and who are committed to ethical coaching principles. Through the programme a participant will gain theoretical as well as practical exposure.

The certificate is aimed at anyone aspiring to coach or who is currently coaching. This include HR professionals, external trainers, consultants, leaders, managers who wish to enhance their coaching skills and experienced practitioners who wish to develop a unique coaching framework and test their approach with a peer group.

The first module of the programme, which is presented over a period of 6 months and consists of 3 study schools of 4 to 5 days each, starts on 11 April, the second module on 19 July and the third 11 October 2011.

For more information view programme info here or contact Arina Basson at 021 918 4472 or e-mail arina.basson@usb-ed.com

Louis Group chairman receives Social Impact Leadership Award

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Frik Landman (CEO: USB Executive Development Ltd), Colia Louis (Chairman: Louis Group), Marius Furst (President of the USB Alumni Association) and Prof John Powell (Director of the USB)

At a gala evening hosted by the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) at the Rotunda, Camps Bay, Louis Group (Africa) Chairman Colia Louis was honoured by being presented with the prestigious Social Impact Leadership Award for 2011. His selection was made by a panel of five alumni and management members of the USB and was mainly given in recognition of the contribution that Louis Group has made through its Business Academy. This programme is a unique collaboration between Louis Group and USB Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED), combining the Group’s “street savvy” and business principles gleaned over their nine decades as a successful family enterprise with the latest academic insights. The goal of the Academy is to make a difference by providing people with the practical tools they need to survive and thrive in business.

In receiving his award, Colia Louis took the opportunity to thank USB for opening their arms as well as their resources to help other people get a head start in business, many of whom would not otherwise have been able to access the calibre of training the Business Academy offers.

“I am privileged to have been able to use the resources and the business experience of the Louis Group to pass on some of the lessons that we have learned to help a new generation of budding entrepreneurs”, said Mr Louis in his acceptance speech, “The knowledge that in some small way we have been able to make a difference in the lives of others is something of such value that you cannot put a price on it.”

To date, over 1,150 students have successfully graduated from the Academy, which is wholly sponsored by Louis Group.

USB-ED staff celebrate 10th birthday

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

It was a day of creativity, champagne and culinary delights as USB-ED staff in both Cape Town and Johannesburg celebrated the company’s 10th birthday in March. Through the use of technology the two offices were able to bridge the distance and share in the festive activities together.

All the staff enthusiastically prepared gifts in the form of posters, birthday poems and cupcakes to share.

Frik Landman, CEO of USB-ED, said: “We have reached a stage in our history where our story-line is strong enough to celebrate. With the help of technology, we hope to incorporate the Jeddah campus and some of our other partners in similar company-wide events in the future.”

USB-ED’s Dr Arnold Smit counsels government in Zambia on sovereign ratings

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

By Ndinawe Simpelwe
(source: The Post Online)

The government should realise that there are two sides of sovereign ratings of the country, says Dr Arnold Smit.

In an interview, Dr Arnold Smit, who is from USB Executive Development Ltd of the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa, said the government should not just look at the positive ratings but ensure that the situation reflected the economic situation in the country.

“Realistically speaking, when there is a positive rating, we should be grateful about the positive growth. But if people don’t see anything positive, it’s up to the government to ensure that its people start benefitting from the economic gains,” Dr Arnold Smit said.

He said it was not enough for government to continue praising itself without ensuring that the ordinary people benefit from economic growth.

“It is understandable for people to complain because they are not seeing anything to brag about. Leaders should be responsible enough to see to it that the good economic gains are trickling down to the ordinary people,” he said.

He said there was anger in the lives of the people because most of the leaders, especially in Africa, were not representing them.

Dr Smit said a good relationship between the leaders and the people was important for the country to have some stability.

“Without a good relationship between the leaders and their people, there could be instability in the country. Responsible leaders should ensure that they are in good standing with their people,” he said.

“The problem with African leaders they want to pretend everything is alright when people are living in poverty. You cannot just sit and do nothing when people are angry and are living in poverty.”

Dr Smit said Zambia was going through an interesting period because the country would hold elections this year.

“One third of the world population is living in good conditions while two thirds are suffering. This is the reason we are seeing some uprising in some countries,” said Dr Arnold Smit.

Dr Arnold Smit is the Executive of the Centre for Business in Society at USB-ED.

Woolworths Develops Much-needed Local Retail Industry Skills

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From left to right: Matt Keogh (Group Director, Human Resources Woolworths), Natalie Meyer (Winner of USB Directors Award), Heilet Bertrand (Executive: Corporate Partnership USB Executive Development Ltd), Joe Dikgole (CEO, Wholesale & Retail SETA)

39 previously unemployed and underemployed youths graduated from Woolworths Growth Academy at a special function on the evening of Wednesday, 9 March 2011.

Launched in 2010, the project is a 12-18 month career development initiative aimed at previously disadvantaged graduates (internal and external candidates). Those selected for the programme are given the opportunity to earn wide-ranging work experience at Woolworths and an executive education certificate from the highly regarded University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED). The project is co-funded by Woolworths and the Wholesale and Retail SETA.

Growth Academy trainees are mentored by leading industry experts; and are empowered to develop solutions to real-life business challenges. While spending time at Woolies Supply Chain division, trainee Siyabulela Godwana was part of a group, for example, that investigated water conservation opportunities at the retailer’s Montague Gardens Distribution Centre. Siyabulela’s team presented recommendations that included the introduction of water efficient toilet facilities – which the distribution centre is strongly considering. He says: “I was intimidated by the prospect of working across a range of business units. Especially because I didn’t know anything about retail and I had no corporate work experience. However with the help of our mentors and fellow trainees, I ended up thoroughly enjoying my time in the Growth Academy. I’ve grown in confidence as a person and I truly believe I can achieve my career goals. “

A successful debut
At the graduation, Woolworths Group Director for Human Resources Matt Keogh praised the quality of the academy’s inaugural class. Chantal Butler Head of Organizational Effectiveness at Woolworths echoed his view: "Woolworths congratulates this Growth Academy class for making the most of this opportunity. You represent a very bright future for South African retail."

Partner pride
Joel Dikgole, CEO of the Wholesale and Retail SETA explained that: "This is one of the most successful projects that we have been a part of. The quality of the project coupled with the 95%+ completion rate makes it exceptional. Woolworths Growth Academy proves that public and private partnerships can help to tackle South Africa’s skills shortage. Further we’re very happy with the achievements of the young people here today."

Heilet Bertrand, Executive: University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED): "Our institution is proud to be associated with this programme. Of course, we’re delighted with the superb performance of this Growth Academy class" says Heilet Bertrand, Executive: Corporate Partnerships, University of Stellenbosch School of Business.

Woolworths plans to offer some (if not all) of the candidates selected for the academy, full-time employment.

Centre launches a host of new project management courses

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

It has been 10 months since USB Executive Development (USB-ED) has launched its Centre for Project Management Intelligence (CPMI). Since then, the Centre has launched new project management programmes, adapted existing programmes, and is launching its new website.

According to MC Botha, executive for the Centre for Project Management Intelligence, the Centre saw an incredible growth in interest in their Project Management programmes after the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In that year, the Centre trained 630 participants in the Programme in Project Management alone. The programme’s curriculum was adapted to give greater focus on strategic project management. Says Botha: “Strategic Project Management places great emphasis on the value propositions prior to, within and after the project process, and hence the reason for revision of existing curricula.”

There is also a growing ethics debate about the role that project managers can play in factoring in the benefits of sustainability in project decision-making. As a result, a module on “Project in Society” is now included in the CPMI’s Advanced Programme in Project Leadership.

The CPMI also recognises a demand in the marketplace for shorter exposure to Project Management training, specifically among young professionals embarking on their careers, administrators, and project management office staff. With this in mind, the CPMI now presents a Principles of Project Management programme. Others innovations include the Programme for Project Management (Engineers), which will be presented in collaboration with the Department of Construction and Engineering Management, within the Engineering Faculty at Stellenbosch University’s main campus.

Recently the Centre hosted the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS). The GAPPS is an alliance of government, private industry, professional associations and training/academic institutes working together to develop globally applicable project management competency-based standards, frameworks and mappings, in order to ensure recognition and transferability of project management qualifications.

Guiding Principles for the Role of Business in Society: Responsibility and Sustainability

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Presented by Dr. Obiora F. Ike, Professor of Ethics and African Studies, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, Nigeria

Business exists to be sustainable
It is normal for businesses to understand their fundamental role in society as working to help create wealth (prosperity) by making profitable investments in the short and long terms. This aim is not enough. It is suggested that sustainable wealth generation be made an aim by placing the human being at the centre. “Man is the author, the centre and the end of all social and economic life”, to quote the documents of the Catholic Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, 1965, No 2. This is enhanced by an understanding of development as integral, not simply wealth generation, profit making or increased shareholder value.

Companies are part of communities
In local environments, wherever they operate, businesses and companies are part of communities. If they consider themselves “offshore” or Trans-national”, they act irresponsibly.

People form the basis for sustainable corporate agenda
Companies perform well if they have a market focus that includes the people as part of their business priorities. To make the primary mission of business profits before people is today no longer a sustainable corporate agenda. Short-term profit must not mean long-term loss. Corporations and businesses survive in a climate where they co-operate with communities in other areas of life.
Core values
Integrity, trust, rule of law, transparency and honesty remain virtues, which corporations can and ought to adapt as core values for long term business activities. Bribery and corruption are short term without long term gain. Support for dictators end in a blind alley.

Minimise harm, maximise business corporate culture
Measures that provide a healthy workplace, environmental protections, safety standards, rights of employees ensure that the environmental impact of what is done is minimised. This is carried out through charitable activities, today known as corporate social philanthropy and responsibility, in areas such as medical science; diseases control and cure HIV ARV drugs provision for infected persons to mention but a few.

New technologies
Businesses and corporations must engage in research and further product development with processes that guarantee higher value; affordability; ever better performance and greater consumer efficiency and benefits. New technologies can help societies in unimagined ways.

The social fabric
Corporate citizenship involves contributions to the social fabric where a company operates through job creation, skills enhancement, knowledge transfer, education and capacity building of the host community to mention but a few. The measure of a business is in its corporate social responsibility, culture and contribution to the social fabric. These include: peoples promotion; environmental protection and investments into the host community development programmes.

Corporate citizenship
Businesses are citizens wherever they operate with rights and duties. Corporate citizenship is freedom plus responsibility – a tall order indeed – that helps a firm or business operate in such a way that maximises benefits and minimises harm.

Ethics
Businesses are founded on a sustainable path if they are ethical, that is rational in their options of short term benefits or long term survival with a good reputation by following and internalising the rules. Corporations need an ethical foundation to operate meaningfully, and these have to promote life, serve life, enhance life and promote solidarity, communal values, shaping of attitudes towards the respect of human rights and dignity and the observance fundamental freedoms.

Ability to close shop
The rule must not be or remain, namely: If you cannot beat them join them. Rather the rule must be: If you cannot beat them, close shop. Companies must have the ability and moral audacity to withdraw from environments where they are prevented from being socially responsible – This is the really tall order for many do not and thus, they survive in the short term and collapse in the long term, having hurt humans and society and not having remained sustainable and ethical in the long term.

On 4 March 2011, Dr. Obiora F. Ike, Professor of Ethics and African Studies, delivered the key note address at the official launch of the Centre for Business in Society. This is an excerpt from his key note address. The complete key note address, "Moral Leadership of Businesses for Sustainable Development in Africa", can be downloaded.

A future that will be increasingly difficult to predict

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In his bestselling book “The Black Swan”, Nassim Taleb warns us that the future is becoming more difficult to predict and that the events that will exert a major influence of lives, will have a very small chance of taking place, but a major influence when they do.

Taleb obtained cult status for himself by predicting events resembling 9/11 and the demise of established financial institutions in the USA in public, well in advance of these events materialising.

He comments: “A prophet is not someone with special visions, just someone who is blind to what most others see”.

According to Professor Eon Smit of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, our own interest in this uncertain future reaches new heights. Entering a book store we see the shelves stacked with numerous books dealing with the gloomy predictions of the end of times in December 2012 and in the business section, a new fascination with risk and uncertainty is clearly prevalent.

In business schools the premise that skilled and productive business forecasting management practices provide organisations engaged in domestic and global commerce with a competitive advantage that is both tactical and strategic, is widely accepted.

The competitive edge stems from the fact that all organisations face the same level of systemic uncertainty or unpredictability (e.g. natural disasters, socio-economic shocks or wars) but not the same level of unsystematic adverse uncertainty.

Business has traditionally been unable to proactively manage systematic risk; it merely reacts to it post-event. In contrast, unsystematic adversity can be proactively managed to a lesser or greater degree if it can be identified beforehand.

In business forecasting best practice for forecasting these unsystematic events have been established though careful scientific analysis in the “western world”.

In 2009 an American student, Miles Conway, working under professor Eon Smit at Stellenbosch Business School, set out to assess South African forecasting practice in the context of international benchmarks. The end product was a business forecasting practice roadmap in which was rooted a best practice integrated forecasting process.

The study highlighted significant shortfalls in South African forecasting practices when compared to international benchmarks.

Conway finds that the South African forecasting practice is resource rich but know-how poor, implying that South African practice is well staffed and funded but that these funds are disproportionally channelled into salaries, software and hardware at the expense at expertise of expertise and know-how, clearly pointing towards the need for training interventions.

Conway, inter alia, concludes that forecasting processes adopted by South African firms are both tactically and strategically flawed, characterised by the absence of integrated forecasting systems, a lack of internal communication amongst different departments forecasting the same business variables and the almost universal exclusion of formal and systematic integration of external market and industry analysis .

To assist South African companies in reaching world class standards in forecasting practice, professor Eon Smit now offers a programme in applied Business Forecasting at the USB Executive Development (USB-ED). For more information contact Charmaine Garcia at 021 918 4488 or charmaine.garcia@usb-ed.com.

Launch of Centre for Business in Society

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The leading companies of the future will be those that are serious about sustainability and who prioritise it as such.

Companies are increasingly finding themselves in an environment with limited resources. To play a leading role and to maintain it, sustainability must receive preference in their economic, social and environmental practices.

This imperative for sustainability in business was strengthened by the launch today of the Centre for Business in Society at USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB).

The Centre focuses on research in corporate responsibility and sustainable development in business to provide for best practice benchmarks. These benchmarks are used to advice and consult companies and organisations on sustainability improvement strategies.

Dr Arnold Smit, head of the Centre for Business in Society, said that companies who want to play a leading role in future should seriously consider the following:

To empower management and staff at all levels to understand sustainability and put it into practise in their daily business operations
To identify and manage the changes that are involved in crossing the bridge towards a truly sustainable business
Collaborate with their stakeholders to create an environment within which a sustainable business is possible
Report confidently and truthfully about the economic, social and environmental impact of their business decisions and behaviours

“The objective of the newly launched Centre is to be in partnership with companies and organisations with the aim of a more sustainable business environment. The Centre, as part of USB Executive Development, will provide for a number of development programmes and services, focusing on the development and promotion of responsible leadership, sustainability and social capital.

“Some of the offerings amongst others are company in-house sustainability programmes, a certificate in sustainable corporate responsibility strategies and a programme to empower companies to better understand and engage more effectively with business dynamics at the “base of the pyramid”.

“There are also programmes aimed at organisations in the social sector to function more effectively and sustainable. The programmes provides for a suitable opportunity for companies to partner with USB ED for related BEE initiatives.”

The key note address speaker at the launch, Prof Obiora Ike from Nigeria, an international thought leader on sustainability and moral leadership, provided some food for thought with a number guiding principles for the role of business in society. These include:

Business exists to be sustainable. It is normal for business to understand their role as helping to create wealth (prosperity) by making profitable investments. This is not enough. The human being should be at the centre of this
Companies are part of communities
People form the basis for a sustainable corporate agenda
Measures that provide a healthy workplace, environmental protection, safety standards, rights of employees ensure that the environmental impact of what is done is minimised
The rule cannot remain: If you cannot beat them, join them. The rule must rather be: If you cannot beat them, close shop.

The Centre’s advisory panel consists of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, founder and executive head of the Umlambo Foundation, Prof Anders Aspling, secretary general of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative, Dr Dan Ofori, senior lecturer at the Business School of the University of Ghana, Michael H. Rea, an international sustainability consultant and Frank Kilbourn, a business man from Cape Town.

Visit the Centre for Business in Society website at http://www.usb-ed.com/business-in-society

USB-ED reads on behalf of business leaders

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The ‘We read for You’ concept run by USB Executive Development, the public management development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), has recently shown a sharp increase in popularity.

The event, held monthly at USB’s campus in Bellville in Cape Town and in Gauteng, is now regularly attended by business executives and other interested people.

This follows the introduction of the popular concept from Europe by USB Executive Development in South Africa in 2008. It involves keeping business people abreast of the latest business literature without them having to spend hours on it themselves.

It consists of a presentation and an in-depth discussion of a highly recommended business and management orientated book, which ultimately only requires about one hour of the participant’s time. Upon conclusion of the discussion session, a video of the event is published on USB Executive Development’s website, www.usb-ed.com, for further viewing.

Willemien Law, head of marketing at USB-Executive Development, said that in today’s business environment, executives are simply too busy to give attention to a basic thing such as “reading”. There is however literature that is occasionally essential to a business person for achieving success in a highly competitive business environment.

“Through our monthly series, themed ‘We read for You’, we want to assist local executives to benefit in the most efficient way from the best international business literature.

“Our series differs however from the traditional type of book club in that members don’t have to read the book in advance. It is purely about an in-depth and academic discussion by an expert programme leader to transfer knowledge of the relevant book quickly and efficiently, for which there otherwise would not be time,” Law said.

The next presentation takes place on March 11 at USB’s campus in Bellville and on March 18 in Gauteng. It places the power of the individual and social groups in the spotlight. The book is The Facebook Era by Clara Shih and will be facilitated by Prof. Louis Fourie.

The Facebook Era presents a practical guide to business people and professionals eager to understand the social technological developments such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn and how it can be applied to stimulate sales, marketing and innovation.

Visit http://www.usb-ed.com/wrfy/The-Facebook-Era or contact Jacky Hector on (021) 918 4370 or jacky.hector@usb-ed.com for more information and reservations.

Celebrate cricket Fridays and make a Corporate Social Investment at the same time

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Here is a way for businesses to celebrate Cricket Fridays and make a meaningful difference to children at the same time.

Sarah Riordan, a faculty member of USB Executive Development (USB-ED), and Helen Nevin are writing a series of children’s books about the countries that participate in international sports events. This includes the soccer, cricket and rugby World Cups and the Olympics in 2012. Well-researched, imaginatively crafted and brightly illustrated, the stories centre around Octavia the travel-wise, sport-loving Ostrich and two adventurous friends who visit all participating countries and learn much along the way. The books are especially aimed at primary school children.

During the cricket world cup tournament, companies that are celebrating Cricket Fridays are invited to sponsor 100 Octavia goes ‘out’ ‘in’ Asia books for R4 500. Sponsors can elect to have the books delivered to their own premises for distribution or they can donate the books to the Waterfront Rotary Club which will distribute them to children via their literacy projects.

Individuals can get involved by buying an ebook. For each ebook sold, a printed book will be donated to the Waterfront Rotary Club for distribution. Details and easy instructions to download an ebook are available on the website.

For more information, contact Sarah Riordan: E-mail: info@planetoctavia.com / Phone: 082 686 3831.

Announcing USB-ED's ten bursary winners

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:00:00 GMT

USB-ED and and Quirk Education join forces

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Quirk Education has partnered with USB-ED, the Executive Development arm of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, to offer two of their five online courses: the Quirk Certificate Course in eMarketing, and the Social Media course in Applying Social Media to Business Challenges.

USB-ED prides itself in being ahead of the curve with advances in digital media and technology and is encouraging students to acquire skills for the future by endorsing courses offered by external experts such as Quirk, an industry leading digital marketing agency.

The duration of these courses are between 6 and 10 weeks each, and are conducted online. Students benefit from easy access to lecturers and resources that are available 24/7 through the Quirk Learning Centre. they are also given set times to share ideas and network with fellow participants on the course.

According to Willemien Law, USB-ED’s Managing Executive of Open Enrolment Programmes and Marketing: “We are proud to collaborate with Quirk Education, a leader in the field of e-Marketing.”

Lyndi Lawson, Head of Quirk Education says, “Endorsement by a prestigious institution like USB-ED attests to the quality of the learning experience we are providing to our students. They are now not only learning from the very best practitioners in the industry, they are also getting the University stamp of approval to put on their CVs.”

What you need to know:

Quirk Certificate Course in eMarketing
Register By: 11 February 2011
Start Date: 14 February 2011
More information
Designed for marketers, entrepreneurs and small business owners, the Certificate Course is a solid introduction to the full range of eMarketing tactics. Students will learn the difference between SEM and PPC, how to apply Social Media and Web Analytics for marketing purposes, as well as gain an understanding of the emerging field of Mobile Marketing, and leave with a good foundation from which to craft an integrated eMarketing strategy.

Applying Social Media to Business Challenges
Register By: 16 February 2011
Start Date: 18 February 2011
More information
For business people and marketers wanting to move to a more sophisticated understanding of how to apply Social Media for a brand, the Quirk Social Media for Business Challenges course is a must. Learn from leaders in the field with this course, jam-packed with recent case studies, both local and international. The course will demonstrate how Social Media has provided solutions and opened up opportunities for businesses to grow their markets and increase their customer-brand relationships, while also raising awareness of potential pitfalls and dangers of not applying social media intelligently and with a long-term vision. Students will graduate from the course with a well-considered Social Media strategy in hand, that they will have developed throughout the course for use in their own business.

To find out more about these courses or to register click on the links above or contact Laura Kirsten on +27 (0)21 918 4467

Vlerick reinforces its international character via alliance with USB-ED

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:00:00 GMT

USB caps off 2010 with an A-rating from EDUNIVERSAL

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) has once again received an A-rating as being one of the “universal business schools with major international influence” in a global survey by EDUNIVERSAL, a Paris-based ratings organisation.

The results of the 2010 EDUNIVERSAL survey were announced at the 3rd EDUNIVERSAL World Convention held in Prague at the University of Economics on the 28th and 30th of October. USB was awarded a Five Palms award for the third consecutive year, the highest honour to a business school. They were also selected as one of the top 3 Excellent Business schools in Africa and selected as the institution among the most recognised and well known.

In August this year the USB was named the number one business school in South Africa by Professional Management Review (PMR.africa). The USB also had the highest reputation of all business schools in South Africa according to the Financial Mail survey this year. In the Financial Mail ranking for MBA programmes the USB MBA achieved the second place. “We are very proud of USB’s achievements. “Not only have we once again taken home an award at the EDUNIVERSAL World Forum, but it has never happened before that we hold the top positions on both the Financial Mail and the PMR in one year,” says Prof John Powell, Director of the USB.

Adding to these achievements, the Aspen Institute in the USA ranked the USB among the top 40 of 100 leading business schools in the world on the 2009-10 edition of its alternative Beyond Grey Pinstripes Top Global list, which promotes social and environmental sustainability. According to the latest list, USB has moved up 31 positions to place at 39 in the rankings.

The year also saw Will Coetsee, a recent USB MBA graduate, selected as one of four finalists selected from applications from AMBA’s 168 accredited business schools in 72 countries worldwide for the Independent MBA Student of the Year Award 2010 at the Association of MBAs (AMBA) Gala Dinner held in London on the 4th of November.

This award is recognised as one of the most prestigious accolades for MBA students globally.

This is the second time in three years that a USB student has made the final four for this important award. USB was also the first South African business school to have received AMBA-accreditation for the quality of its MBA programme.

“It is great to find that the business community at large respects so visibly the strong intellectual and academic standing of our degrees as well as students. We feel at USB that learning how to think well, to be constructively critical and to have an enquiring mind are key assets in business life and it is most pleasing to see our peers in business both locally and abroad authenticate that position,” says Powell.

Use a gap year to become an entrepreneur

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The idea of taking a gap year, typically in London or elsewhere to do odd jobs, arose because school-leavers often don't yet know what to do with their lives. The problem is that even after such a year many young people still don't have an idea of what they want to do because no structure for the year has been put in place.

In order to overcome this problem, the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), presents from January next year an entrepreneur programme to make just such a gap year as productive as possible.

It is not only aimed at school-leavers, but also at students who have terminated their studies, as well as young graduates who want to create their own employment opportunities.

According to DeWet Schoeman, programme leader of the programme at USB-ED, the idea is to encourage and elucidate entrepreneurial thinking in participants. It will teach them how to seek their own opportunities or create them in preparation for a future career.

"The intention is not necessarily that participants establish an enterprise upon conclusion of the programme. It is simply to encourage entrepreneurial thinking that allows for the creation of ideas for the future.

"In order to do this, a person first has to understand who and what he or she is, and the direction in which their lives should move," said Schoeman.

The programme, which is presented over a period of ten months, comprises two phases. The first phase, which is more theoretical in nature, covers three areas of development. The first deals mainly with self-discovery and what a person expects from life. It also deals with development of entrepreneurial thought, and how to identify opportunities and capitalise on them in a way that creates prosperity for oneself. Thirdly, it also comprises the basic principles and skills needed to establish a small to medium enterprise and manage it. The learning process will be emphasised through a process of life-coaching.

The second phase is more practical in nature and offers participants the opportunity to put what they learnt in the first phase, into practice. While support will be given in the identification of job opportunities and other development opportunities, it is the participants who will be primarily responsible for their employment. It will also be expected of participants to report back regularly on their experiences and development.

It is possible to undertake the second phase while working in London or elsewhere, with report-backs done over the internet. The ‘adventure' of going overseas is therefore not discouraged. By doing it with the knowledge of entrepreneurship, will however leave a participant far better equipped for this and the future.

By the end of the programme, participants will be required to present a business plan in order to qualify for a certificate in entrepreneurship and business management.

"A gap year does not have to be a survival year, but rather one that is structured and filled with discovery and excitement," Schoeman said.

For more information, contact DeWet Schoeman on (021) 918 4216 or dewet.schoeman@usb-ed.com, or Charmaine Garcia on (021) 918 4488 or charmaine.garcia@usb-ed.com.

Doing business in Africa – An opportunity or impossibility

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Business ventures into Africa fail because of a combination of lack of market knowledge, poor planning and ill-conceived perceptions of the Africa market. This is more than often exacerbated by a lack of cultural understanding and possibly arrogance by "1st world" business people and an over¬reliance on expatriates.

Accordingly a perception is created that doing business in Africa is treacherous, expensive and virtually impossible without the "greasing of palms".

Although this might have been the case decades ago, Africa is changing fast in the modern world. The continent is now recognised as having the most potential of any other to grow and develop over the next 10 to 20 years.

With increasingly stable governments, trading platforms and transparency, it is possibly the best time for companies, looking at increasing revenue streams through market expansion, to consider branching into Africa.

To highlight this potential and pitfalls associated with doing business in Africa, as well as to provide insight on how obstacles can be bridged, the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), will provide a platform for a number of high powered roll players to express their views in this regard.

It will be in the format of a workshop to be hosted by USB-ED in Gauteng from 23 to 24 November 2010 with guest speakers from public and private organisations from South Africa and Africa. It is aimed at any individual, consultant or organisation that is doing business or is interested in doing business in Africa.

According to USB-ED CEO, Frik Landman, participants will gain knowledge from some of South Africa's best known companies who have already ventured into Africa.

"The aim is for a better understanding of the development potential of Africa and for business people to obtain information on how to source funding for these kinds of ventures. For this a case study by one of the country's leading banks will be presented.

"Participants will hear from representatives of two of our leading trading nations, Kenya and Ghana, what they are seeking from investors and how best to approach business in their respective countries.

"Also gain an understanding of the options pertaining to business structures which may be best suited to a particular venture, based upon objectives such as ownership, control and funding. Two locally listed companies will do presentations on what worked, but also what didn't during their entry into Africa.

"This programme is presented by speakers of the highest calibre, who are all experts in their respective fields," Landman said.

For more information contact Anne Engelbrecht (0 21) 918 4482 or anne.engelbrecht@usb-ed.com

Gebruik gapingsjaar om entrepreneur te word

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Die idee om ‘n gapingsjaar te vat en tipies in Londen of elders allerlei los werk te gaan doen het ontstaan omdat skoolverlaters nie altyd weet wat hulle in die lewe wil doen of bereik nie. Die probleem is dat baie jongmense ná só ‘n jaar steeds nog nie mooi weet wat om te doen nie omdat daar nie altyd struktuur aan so ‘n jaar gegee is nie.

Om dié probleem die hoof te bied, bied die publieke bestuursontwikkeling en opleidingsmaatskappy van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch Bestuurskool, USB Bestuursontwikkeling (USB-BO), vanaf Januarie aanstaande jaar ‘n entrepreneursprogram aan om juis ‘n gapingsjaar so produktief as moontlik te maak. Dit is nie net vir skoolverlaters nie, maar ook vir studente wat hul studies gestaak het, asook jong gegradueerdes wat graag vir hulself werksgeleenthede wil skep.

Volgens DeWet Schoeman, programleier van die program by USB-BO, is die idee om entrepreneuriese denke by deelnemers aan die program aan te wakker en toe te lig. Dit sal hulle leer hoe self geleenthede te gaan soek of skep ter voorbereiding vir ‘n toekomstige loopbaan.

"Die gedagte is nie dat deelnemers noodwendig ná die program ‘n onderneming op die been moet bring nie. Dit is bloot om entrepreneuriese denke aan te wakker om dan self geleenthede te skep vir die toekoms.

"Om dit te kan doen moet ‘n persoon eers agterkom wie en wat hy of sy is en watter rigting in die lewe ingeslaan wil word," het Schoeman gesê.

Die program, wat oor tien maande aangebied sal word, bestaan uit twee fases. Die eerste fase, wat meer teoreties van aard is dek drie ontwikkelingsareas. Die eerste handel hoofsaaklik oor selfontdekking en wat ‘n persoon uit die lewe verlang. Dit handel ook oor die ontwikkeling van entrepreneurskapdenke en hoe om geleenthede te identifiseer en daarop te kapitaliseer om sodoende vir jouself en vir ander welvaart te skep. Derdens behels dit ook die basiese beginsels van hoe om ‘n klein- tot middelslag-onderneming te vestig en te bestuur. Die leerproses sal versterk word deur middel van ‘n proses van lewensafrigting.

Die tweede fase is meer prakties van aard en bied die geleentheid aan deelnemers om dit wat hulle in die eerste fase geleer en ontdek het in die praktyk toe te pas. Terwyl daar wel ondersteuning gegee sal word om ‘n werkgeleentheid of ander ontwikkelingsgeleentheid te identifiseer, sal deelnemers primêr verantwoordelik wees om te sorg dat hulle in diensgeneem word. Daar sal ook van deelnemers verwag word om gereeld terug te rapporteer oor hul ervarings en ontwikkeling.

Dit is wel moontlik om in die tweede fase in Londen of elders te gaan werk met terugrapportering wat dan oor die internet gedoen moet word. Die ‘avontuur' om oorsee te gaan word dus nie ontmoedig nie. Deur dit eers met kennis oor entrepreneurskap te doen, sal ‘n deelnemer egter soveel beter toegerus wees daarvoor en vir die toekoms.

Teen die einde van die program sal van deelnemers vereis word om ‘n besigheidsplan voor te lê ten einde ‘n sertifikaat in entrepreneurskap en sakebestuur te verwerf.

"‘n Gapingsjaar hoef nie ‘n oorlewingsjaar te wees nie, maar eerder ‘n gestruktureerde en ontdekkingsjaar," het Schoeman gesê.

Vir meer inligting, kontak DeWet Schoeman by (021) 918 4216 dewet.schoeman@usb-ed.com of Charmaine Garcia by (021) 918 4488 charmaine.garcia@usb-ed.com

USB-Bestuursontwikkeling snoer kragte saam met wêreldbekende Stanford Sentrum vir Professionele Ontwikkeling

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

'n Inspirerende nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse leierskap-ontwikkelingsprogram, wat deur internasionaal beproefde onderrig- en navorsingsvaardighede onderskryf word, is vandag aangekondig.

Dit volg nadat die publieke bestuursontwikkeling en opleidingsmaatskappy van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch Bestuurskool (USB), USB Bestuursontwikkeling (USB-BO), kragte met die welbekende Stanford Universiteit saamgesnoer het.

Die program behels hulp van die Silicon Valley-gebaseerde Stanford Sentrum vir Professionele Ontwikkeling (Center for Professional Development) (SCPD), wat van die grootste uitdagings in Suid-Afrika sal aanspreek deur middel van 'n reeks bestuursprogramme wat vir Suid-Afrika se volgende geslag van leiers saamgestel is.

Getiteld, "Innovative Futures", het die program ten doel om die kritiese gaping in bestuursvaardighede, wat Suid-Afrika se ekonomie ondermyn, te oorbrug. Dit word gedoen deur die implementering van beproefde internasionale metodes in probleem-oplossing en die ontwikkeling van vooruitsiendheid-vaardighede wat deur Stanford Universiteit ontwikkel is.

Die program is ontwerp om opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse sake- en regeringsleiers met die nodige hulpmiddele toe te rus en om hul land se vermoëns in besigheid- en regeringsake uit te bou. Dit gee aan opkomende leiers in die publieke-, privaat- en sonder-winsbejag-sektore die geleentheid om probleme van openbare belang beter aan te pak en om uitdagings doeltreffender te ontleed en op te los.

Die program is gemik op senior-bestuurders in openbare beleid, internasionale aangeleenthede en verwante saketerreine, asook loopbaan-praktisyns en staatsamptenare verantwoordelik vir nasionale-, streeks- en plaaslike innoverende inisiatiewe. Die program is van spesifieke belang vir senior-bestuurders en strategiebeplanners, sake-ontwikkeling, langtermynbeplanning, toekomsstudies en opkomende markte.

Deelnemers aan die vierdag-program sal 'n sertifikaat van die Stanford Sentrum vir Professionele Ontwikkeling en die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ontvang. Die program word in Oktober aangebied by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Sakeskool in Bellville (12 tot 15 Oktober) en in Johannesburg (19 tot 22 Oktober).

Die vernaamste onderwerpe wat aangeraak sal word, is innovasie in die praktyk: die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks; die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks: 'n Toekomsnavorsingsperspektief, innoverende hulpmiddels vir perspektief, innoverende hulpmiddele vir geleenthede en oplossings en projekvertoning en nadenke.
Die metodologie van die Sentrum vir Vooruitsiendheid en Innovering (Center for Foresight and Innovation) (CFI) by die Stanford Universiteit verskaf die program se boustene. "Ons program is ontwikkel volgens die bedryf se behoeftes, om 'n jaarlange geborgde graadkursus te onderskryf wat ons al vir bykans 50 jaar by Stanford aanbied," sê CFI direkteur, William Cockayne.

"Ons het hierdie program tot in die laboratoriums, kantore en navorsingsentrums van ons vennote - wat Microsoft, Panasonic (Japan), Tata (Pune), UPM (Finland) Volvo Aero / Trucks / IT (Sweden) en die grootste gebakmaatskappy in Suid-Korea, Crown Confectionary - geneem.

"Ons is baie opgewonde oor die geleentheid om met universiteite, maatskappye en ondersteunende organisasies in Suid-Afrika te werk, met die doel om ons netwerk van globale innovering uit te brei," sê Cockayne.

Stanford is 'n rolspeler in die opkoms van Silicon Valley, tuiste van die wêreld se grootste tegnologie-maatskappye, waaronder Apple, Adobe, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Intel, Cisco en HP, om maar enkeles te noem.

Frik Landman, uitvoerende hoof van USB-BO het die inisiatief met Stanford beskryf as 'n belangrike coup vir 'n Suid-Afrikaanse sakeskool. "Suid-Afrika se jong leiers het geweldige potensiaal, maar toegang tot die regte opleidingsgeleenthede kortwiek hul dikwels. Ons mededingende voordeel in Afrika is 'n bevolking wat vinnig op pad is na een miljard, waarvan meer as 50% jonger as 15 jaar gaan wees.

Die inisiatief word deur die Instituut vir Publieke Beleid & Internasionale Ontwikkeling (Institute of Public Policy & International Development) (IPPID) in Silicon Valley, Kalifornië, gefasiliteer.

Medestigter van IPPID, David Altman, het gesê: "Die skepping van meer leiers in Suid-Afrika, met die professionele vaardighede om die land se maatskappye en regering-agentskappe te lei, is van kardinale belang. Om die innovasie- en ontwikkelingskapasiteit van Suid-Afrika te versterk, baan die weg vir vooruitgang en sosiale en ekonomiese ontwikkeling."

Registrasie-details oor die program kan by www.usb-ed.com gevind word.

Vir meer inligting, kontak Samantha Diedericks by +27 21 918 4479 of samantha.diedericks@usb-ed.com

USB Executive Development joins forces with world renowned Stanford Center for Professional Development

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

An inspiring new South African leadership development initiative, which will be driven by internationally tested teaching and research skills, was announced today.

This follows a joining of forces by the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), and world renowned Stanford University.

The initiative consists of Silicon Valley-based Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) assisting to address some of the most urgent challenges facing South Africa by providing a series of executive programmes for the next generation of South African leaders.

Entitled Innovative Futures, the programme aims to fill the critical management skills gap undermining South Africa's economy by introducing proven international methods in long-range problem-solving and foresight skills developed at Stanford University.

The programme is designed to give emerging South African business and government leaders tools to build their country's capacities in business and government. It allows emerging leaders in the public, private or non-profit sectors to better tackle the most challenging public problems and offers an opportunity to become more effective at analysing and resolving strategic problems.

The programme is intended for senior managers in public policy, international affairs, and related business fields, as well as mid-career practitioners and civil servants with responsibility for national, regional and local innovation initiatives. The programme has particular relevance for senior managers and strategists in planning, business development, long-range planning, futures research, and emerging markets.

Graduates of the four day programme will receive a certificate from the Stanford Center for Professional Development as well as Stellenbosch University. The programmes will run in October at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in Bellville (12 to 15 October) and in Johannesburg (19 to 22 October).

The main topics to be covered are innovation contextualised: the South African context, the South African context: A Futures Research perspective, innovation tools for perspective, innovation tools for opportunity and solutions and project showcase and reflections.

The methodology from the Center for Foresight and Innovation (CFI) at Stanford University provides the backbone of the programme. "Our program was developed at the behest of industry, to support a year-long, industry-sponsored graduate course we've offered at Stanford for almost 50 years", says CFI Director William Cockayne.

"We've taken this program into the labs, offices, and research centres of these same partners, which include the likes of Microsoft, Panasonic (Japan), Tata (Pune), UPM (Finland) Volvo Aero / Trucks / IT (Sweden), and the largest cookie company in South Korea, Crown Confectionary.

"We're very excited by the opportunity to work with the universities, companies, and supporting organizations in South Africa, with the intention of expanding our network of global innovation", says Cockayne.

Stanford is a key player in the rise of Silicon Valley, home to the world's largest technology companies including Apple, Adobe, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Intel, Cisco and HP to name just a few.

USB-ED CEO, Frik Landman, described the initiative with Stanford as an important coup for a South African business school. "The young leaders of South Africa have immense potential, but often lack access to the right training opportunities. Our competitive advantage in Africa is a population heading for a billion of which almost 50% would be under the age of fifteen.

The initiative is facilitated by the Institute of Public Policy & International Development (IPPID) based in Silicon Valley, California.

Co-founder of IPPID, David Altman, said: "Creating more leaders in South Africa with the professional skills to lead the country's companies and government agencies is critical. Enhancing innovation and development capacities of South Africans is consistent with the advancement of social and economic development."

Graduates of the programme will receive a certificate from the Stanford Center for Professional Development and Stellenbosch University. Registration details may be found at: www.usb-ed.com

For more information contact Samantha Diedericks at +27 21 918 4479 or samantha.diedericks@usb-ed.com

Keeping harmony in difficult times

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

When company executives negotiate a deal, they need to have people skills if they stand a chance of getting the agreement they want.

How to design and negotiate a deal successfully

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Layman's thinking has it that successful business deals are usually concluded with representatives of two organisations sitting around a table and hammer away at all kinds of proposals and suggestions till the side with strongest will or intellectual muscle overpowers the other.

According to Prof Barney Jordaan, head of the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement, this type of scenario for successful deal making can't be further from what it should be. In this way it is simply destined to fail with no one gaining anything from it.

"While deals are crafted at a table, the design of the deal happens away from it. The key objective is to arrive at the table with a proposal that satisfies your priority interests, while keeping the other side interested in talking.

"To achieve this, the other side need to realise that negotiating with you, rather than with someone else, is in their best interest. As is the case with diplomacy, good deal design is the art of letting them have your way," he said.

To accommodate this, USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) in conjunction with the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement has put together a programme to equip negotiators with the necessary skills to design successful deals, before they get to the bargaining table.

The programme, Master Class in Designing a Deal, is aimed at anyone who is serious about negotiation, including business owners and executives, managers, lawyers and accountants. It will take place on 26 August 2010 at the USB campus.

USB-ED director of Open Programmes & Africa, Willemien Law, said the programme will provide you with knowledge about the fundamentals of negotiation, the importance of interests, options, no-deal options and using standards or benchmarks to persuade the other side of the fairness of your proposals.

It will help participants to deal with the other side at the table. But what happens away from the table matters just as much, if not more. During this hands-on, interactive programme, participants will learn:

how to ensure that the right issues are addressed, with the right people, in the right order;
how to develop an attractive value proposition that meets your core interests while also taking into account some of theirs;
how to design deals that are robust and sustainable;
how to negotiate the spirit and the letter of the deal;
how to maximise your negotiation leverage.

For more information contact Anne Engelbrecht at +27 (0)21 918 4482 or e-mail anne.engelbrecht@usb-ed.com

Global financial leaders tackle the challenge of creating inclusive financial systems

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT

New technologies such as mobile phones are transforming the landscape of retail financial services.

New, non-financial services players such as mobile phone operators are entering the payment service business and extending access to financial services to people not previously reached by banks. There has been much growth of mobile-based financial services globally in recent years. South Africa itself has seen a recent increase of activity in this space with the introduction of new models such as FNB eWallet and M-PESA (Vodacom and Nedbank).

Mobile financial services have the potential to reach millions of unserved people, but also expose financial sectors and payment systems to new risks. Existing regulations and approaches to financial sector supervision do not yet fully address these risks.

To meet the growing need for appropriate regulation of mobile financial services, the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) and USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), will host a seminar on the regulatory challenges of "mobile money" for thirty five developing country financial sector regulators.

The seminar will take place at the University of Stellenbosch's Business School from 4-6 August 2010. The attending regulators and policymakers include central bank deputy governors and central bank heads of payment system and banking supervision divisions in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Representatives from Mexico, Malaysia, Russia, the Philippines, Pakistan and Ecuador will also attend the event.

The seminar will provide a peer learning opportunity and help to establish a practical understanding of the new technologies and business models emerging in the area of mobile financial services.

"During the last few years there has been a growing interest globally and, specifically, here in Africa to provide financial services to people that have traditionally not been served by banks. Regulators now have to deal with the challenges of regulating unconventional, innovative financial services that are being created in response to this need" says Mr Doubell Chamberlain, executive director of Cenfri.

"This event will allow regulators to benefit from the experience of the leading countries facilitated by experts in this field. Regulators from Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan and the Philippines will share their own experiences on the regulation of mobile financial services with their peers and there will be much opportunity for discussion of the various challenges," notes Chamberlain.

According to Mr Frik Landman, chief executive officer of USB-ED, the seminar provides USB-ED with the opportunity to engage with two areas of development which they are very passionate about - financial services innovation and the training of African policymakers.

The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) is funding the training event. AFI is a knowledge network of central banks and other financial regulatory bodies in developing countries. Its activities are funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The seminar will culminate in the establishment of the AFI Working Group on Mobile Financial Services. The working group will allow regulators and policymakers to continue sharing their experience in this rapidly evolving area of financial services and input this into the global regulatory dialogue.

About Cenfri and USB-ED

The Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) is a think-tank focused on promoting financial inclusion and financial sector development through facilitating better regulation and market provision of financial services. It achieves this by conducting research, providing advice and developing capacity building programmes for regulators, market players and other parties operating in the low-income market. Cenfri is based at the University of Stellenbosch's Business School campus. (www.cenfri.org).

USB Executive Development (USB-ED) is the public executive development and training company of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) and functions on the African continent in a global context. The company aligns itself with a systems worldview to navigate the Information Age. They are informed by various learning theories and view human beings holistically, leadership as a social-psychological phenomenon and organisations as complex human populated systems.

The partnership: Cenfri and USB-ED jointly develop training events for African policymakers and financial sector practitioners. These events are aimed at capacitating policymakers and financial sector practitioners to expand the reach of the traditional financial sector to the low-income population and allow for holistic financial sector development.

Financial Services Board determines Senior Management Development Programme as fit and proper

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) of USB Executive Development is now recognised by the Financial Services Board as per Board Notice 44 of 2010. Individuals in the financial services industry who successfully complete the SMDP will now also meet the fit and proper qualification requirements as per the "Determination of Fit and Proper Requirements for Financial Service Providers."

According to Willemien Law, Managing Executive: Open Enrolment Programmes and Marketing: "We are excited to contribute to the development of individuals in the financial sector, which will help to ensure that high standards are sustained in an important industry in our country."

The SMDP is presented on the complexity level of NQF 7. It is offered at University level and therefore approved by the Council for Higher Education (CHE) through the University of Stellenbosch.

The SMDP is specifically aimed at senior managers from any industry who focus more on operations than on strategy, and are eager to benchmark their abilities and further their potential. Participants are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to function effectively in their unique environments. Once participants have completed this programme, they may enrol for the BA (Hons) in Business Management via distance learning and work-based projects with the University of Lincoln in the UK. Says Law: "The Senior Management Programme enables participants to venture on a planned learning pathway which will lead to a formal degree without jeopardising their corporate career".

For further information on this programme, click here or contact Charmaine Garcia at +2721 918 4488.