It is the mission of the USB to create, disseminate and apply business knowledge by providing business education and research of international standard to current and future leaders. This education and research is delivered in a way that is relevant, emancipating, well-founded and responsible. For our students, this translates into the following:
· Critical thinking: The USB's programmes are underpinned by authentic and critical academic discourse. Hence, we will teach you to think critically, hold an argument and value different perspectives. Criticality will enable you to future-proof your career as you will always be able to ask relevant questions. This, together with the management skills you will acquire, will allow you to manage any business in any industry, anywhere in the world.
· Leadership and personal development: The USB believes leaders are grown, not born. In addition, the world needs leaders who can think critically and manage not only profits but also people and the planet. Therefore, the USB’s programmes are angled towards delivering this, with a strong focus on sustainability, social responsibility, ethics and corporate citizenship. The MBA, in particular, also focuses on interpersonal skills and presentation skills to enable students to carry themselves well in any situation.
· International acceptance: The USB has positioned itself as a knowledge gateway from the world to Africa, and from Africa to the world. As a result, the USB's programmes have both a global and local focus, with the latter concentrating on Sub-Saharan Africa. The USB's three international accreditations - AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA - confirm our quality standards to all stakeholders, including prospective students. The USB is the first business school of an African university to achieve the Triple Crown - business schools with all three international accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA). Students also benefit from the USB's partnership agreements with over 80 international business schools through exchange study options, joint research projects and international lecturers.
· Engaging with society: Engaging positively and imaginatively with societal issues is important to the USB. This is made real through hands-on case studies and various other initiatives, such as the USB's Programme for NPOs and the USB's Small Business Academy.
Portfolio of academic programmes
-
MBA (full-time, modular and part-time options)
-
MPhil in Development Finance (MDevF)
-
MPhil in Management Coaching
-
MPhil in Futures Studies
-
PhD in Business Administration
-
PhD in Development Finance
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Dispute Settlement
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Development Finance
-
Executive education
Centres and units
Five centres and units conduct research and create thought leadership at the USB: The Centre for Leadership Studies, the Centre for Corporate Governance in Africa, the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement, the Base of the Pyramid Learning Lab, and the Institute for Futures Research.
More about the USB
- AACSB accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business which represents the highest achievement for an educational institution that awards business degrees. In November 2012, the USB became the first business school of African origin to achieve international AACSB accreditation for its MBA and other programmes.
-
EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development in Belgium - applies to the USB and all its programmes
-
AMBA accreditation from the Association of MBAs in the UK - applies to the USB's MBA
-
EDAMBA membership from the European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration - applies to the USB's PhD
-
CHE accreditation by the South African Council on Higher Education - applies to all the USB's degrees
-
Beyond Grey Pinstripes 2010-11 Top 100 Schools List from the Aspen Institute in New York, USA - placed at number 65, the USB is the only African school represented on this exclusive list
-
EDUNIVERSAL global survey, France - the USB has an A-rating as a "universal business school with major international influence"
-
EFMD's Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative - the USB is a member of the GRLI which focuses on reframing the purpose of management education
-
UN's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) - the USB is one of the first 100 business schools and universities from around the world that has endorsed this UN-backed global initiative which promotes corporate responsibility and sustainability in business education
-
Global Business School Network - the USB is a member of this organisation that promotes management education as a critical component of international development strategies
-
Leading business school associations - the USB is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Global Business School Network (GBSN), the management development organisation CEEMAN, Association of African Business Schools (AABS) and the SA Business Schools Association (SABSA).
