Building business education in Africa
An Association of African Business Schools (AABS) has been formed to promote excellence in business and management education. SA Professor Nick Binedell, director of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), has been elected as the first chairperson of the AABS, formally established in October 2005.
Binedell says: "We aim to build capacity by collaborating with one other and improving the quality of education delivery on the continent. The key issue is to improve the depth of management skills in Africa in order to achieve the growth goals set out by President Mbeki.
"This is imperative in Africa if we are to compete successfully in the global economy. India is reported to be producing 350 000 engineering graduates and 60 000 MBAs every year."
Other committee members include Professor Franklyn Manu, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration; Professor Idrissa Mbengue, Institut Supérieur de Management, Senegal; Professor George Njenga, Strathmore Business School, Kenya; Professor Erasmus Kaijage, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Association was formally established in Lagos during October 2005 following an 18-month programme of discussions facilitated by the Global Business School Network (GBSN).
Funded by the International Finance Corporation, the GBSN aims to improve the institutional capacity of business schools in emerging markets. The programme included a series of workshops to define the needs of business education in Africa.
The next workshop will be held in Lagos during May this year after a general meeting of business schools.
