Africa's top business school brings its best to Cape Town

Africa's top postgraduate business school, the UCT Graduate School of Business, will repeat its highly successful annual open day for potential students in Cape Town next month.

On 11 September 2013 and 3 October 2013 the open day will be held at the UCT Graduate School of Business campus. Potential students will find out more about the courses on offer, as well as practical information and the benefits of studying through the GSB.

The GSB is one of just 59 business schools worldwide to be 'triple-crown' accredited, having been awarded accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs and the European Foundation for Management Development, which awards the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation.

"This places business education in South Africa - and indeed Africa - in a whole different league," says Professor Walter Baets, Director of the GSB.

"With the recent visit of US President Barack Obama highlighting Africa's potential as a global trade partner, it is essential for us to take our place among business thought leaders globally. It is schools such as the GSB that make this standard possible," he adds.

There are nearly 14,000 business schools competing for the same accreditations, Baets notes.

"We have been placed firmly on the map on a global level," says Baets. "But our open days also give us the opportunity to let potential students get to know us locally."

Baets believes in an African focus, which is reflected in the GSB's addition of open days in six African countries as well. "We don't need Harvard in Africa," he says. "We need an African centre of learning for African business and thought leaders - with a focus on building Africa as a global contender in business."

The GSB's MBA has been ranked in the Financial Times' Top 100, and topped the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, which rates schools from around the world based on MBA employers and recruiters' views. It is widely acclaimed for its combination of African issues and international scope.

"Research by the Association of MBAs demonstrates that the MBA continues to open doors for graduates in terms of career growth internationally," says Baets. "At the same time there is a growing demand for leaders who can manage sustainably for the benefit of a wider pool of stakeholders - not just shareholders - and to use the power of business and business thinking to tackle emerging market challenges like education and health."

The open days will showcase the MBA, the Executive MBA, the Mcom Development Finance, the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, and the Associate in Management (AIM). All programmes are offered on a modular basis enabling students to essentially commute from anywhere in the country to attend the GSB.

The AIM programme is particularly useful to aspiring leaders without previous tertiary education. It provides graduates with a certificate from the Faculty of Commerce at UCT that will enable them to study further.

"It is not just those who would like to achieve an education at Masters level who can benefit at the UCT GSB," says marketing manager Cherry Burchell. "We have courses aiming at all levels, from short courses with a very specific focus to heavier academic programmes with a corresponding qualification."

The 11 September 2013 open day will take place between 08h30 and 12h30 at the UCT Graduate School of Business Lecture Theatre 2, 5 and 6. Click here to RSVP.

The 3 October 2013 open day will take place between 08h30 and 11h15 at the UCT Graduate School of Business Lecture Theatre 1, 2 and 4. Click here to RSVP.

For more information please contact the UCT GSB Admissions Office on +27 (0)21 406 1338 or send an email to az.ca.tcu.bsg@snoissimda.