Regent Business School unveils iLeadLAB

Regent Business School, one of the leading providers of business and management education in South Africa and a member institution of Honoris United Universities, the first pan-African private higher education network, announces the opening of iLeadLAB – a new ‘Employability Unit’.

Luis Lopez, CEO Honoris United Universities, with Managing Director of Regent Business School, Dr Ahmed Shaikh.

RBS has unveiled its new initiative aimed at empowering young people with core skills and competencies to creatively bridge the gap between education and the demands of the 21st century workplace. iLeadLAB, the Employability Unit at Regent Business School, the brainchild of the institute’s Managing Director, Dr Ahmed Shaikh, is a direct response to the accelerated pace of technological transformation and labour market disruption.

“Gone are the days of copy-paste employment and training strategies. Global business requires dynamic, qualified individuals who are in sync with the demands of a rapidly changing digital workforce. The new upskill is multi-skilling and our Employability Centre helps turn students into innovators and entrepreneurs to be reckoned with,” explains Shaikh.

Commenting, CEO of Honoris United Universities, Luis Lopez, said, “Nurturing the talents of our students and alumni is central to empowering the next African generations of local, regional and international leaders. We believe in creating strong learning environments that include a pragmatic focus on core employability competencies – this is how we intend to create a rich academic experience and prepare graduates for life in the fast-paced, highly interconnected business world of today and tomorrow.”

Shaikh points out that corporates are increasingly looking for high-performance individuals who will pack a powerful punch within their internal business culture and external stakeholder-engagement environments. “With businesses around the world using more technology to simplify or amplify operations, the pressure is on for employees to evolve too. Today, the ideal workforce is made up of individuals who have exemplary inter- and intra-personal skills and tools such as empathy, a collaborative mindset, effective communication and the ability to solve problems creatively and can boldly innovate. Employers today are looking for talent with unique human abilities; well-rounded individuals who use their creativity and imagination and who are comfortable in technologically evolving spaces. The new Employability Centre plugs into this demand but providing these necessary skills and knowledge.”

Some of the students with their creative designs that they learned to craft at Regent Business School’s new iLeadLAB, the Employability Unit.

To this end, a group of Regent Business School students have been selected for a pioneering 10-day bootcamp at the Employability Unit’s iLeadLAB. In addition to being taught how to flex their critical and creative thinking muscles to thrive in dynamic world markets, the students were exposed to a wide variety of skills and experiences that included hands-on training in the art of successful communication, information literacy, global citizenship, use of art and creativity for problem-solving competency, digital literacy and exposure to 3D printing and a range of technology relevant to Industry 4.0.

Sinethemba Maduna expressed her experiences: "The past week has stimulated my thinking and exposed me to how the new world works. The computer experience, in laser cutting, 3D printing and programming has shown me how easy it is to take an idea and develop it into a viable business. These entrepreneurial and creative skills learned over the last few days is overwhelming and very satisfying."

Velani Khambule has this to say about his training: “I always wanted to be employed. My exposure at the iLeadLAB has changed this perspective. It has broadened my thinking and the practical exercises have given me the confidence to communicate in a professional and logical manner. My ideas can be better communicated with positive outcomes.”

For more details on Regent Business School’s iLeadLAB, visit www.regent.ac.za.

About Regent Business School

Since 1998, Regent Business School (RBS) has been at the forefront of premium management education across the continent. Headquartered in South Africa, RBS’s acclaimed finance and management programmes have helped individuals and organisations build and sustain competitive advantages in a rapidly-changing, complex business environment. With campuses in all major hubs including Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria, as well as in SADC countries, Swaziland and Namibia, the institution’s alumni base of 5,000 is rapidly expanding. RBS’s four leading centres for excellence - The Institute of Entrepreneurship, The Centre for Islamic Finance and Banking, The Centre for the BRICS Business Schools Association, and The Centre for Public Sector Administration Management and Innovation – are popular with high performers who are serious about making positive, impactful change within the global finance and management sectors. www.regent.ac.za

Contact: az.ca.tneger@ydder.inhsabarp

About Honoris United Universities

Honoris United Universities is the first private pan-African higher education network committed to preparing and educating the next generation of African leaders and professionals able to impact regionally in a globalised world. Collaborative intelligence, cultural agility and mobile mindsets and skills are at the heart of Honoris’ vision of higher education. Honoris United Universities joins the expertise of its member institutions to prepare pan-regional profile graduates that are competitive in today’s fast-paced and demanding labor markets.

Honoris United Universities gathers a community of 32,000 students on 58 campuses, learning centres and via on-line, in nine countries and 30 cities across Africa. The network counts 10 institutions: multidisciplinary universities, specialised schools, technical and vocational institutes, contact and distance institutions. Students have an opportunity to experience exclusive partnerships and exchange programmes in more than 60 universities across Europe, Asia and the United States. Over 150 degrees are offered in Health Science, Engineering, IT, Business, Law, Architecture, Arts and Design, Media, Education and Political Science.

Honoris United Universities. Education for Impact®. www.honoris.net

Contact: ten.sironoh@nokakL