New head aims to keep business school relevant
A NEW director has been appointed for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU) business school’s East London campus.
Dr Randall Jonas, who boasts an illustrious curriculum vitae with more than 35 years working experience in both the public and private sectors, will however be based at the university’s Port Elizabeth campus.
He also has many years as chief executive officer of the Eastcape Training Centre (ETC) and Private FET College.
Jonas, who assumed duty in January, brings with him a wealth of business and education experience.
He is no stranger to the university, having previously served on NMMU’s council and trust with distinction, and is currently the president of the university’s alumni association.
Speaking at a business breakfast held at the East London Golf Club earlier this month, Jonas said his main aim was to create holistic business leaders at the institution.
“We are living in a world where things are changing rapidly and we need to take stock of where we are and what we need to do to stay relevant.” Jonas added that business schools have an important role to play in society.
“Through their research and education programmes, they are able to influence the management and leadership of various organisations.
“Our country, with an emerging economy, requires business leaders who are in tune with the contexts.
“The NMMU business school shall continue to offer relevant and valueadding programmes in order to make a meaningful contribution to business in general and in particular to socioeconomic challenges facing our continent,” he said.
Jonas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Western Cape, a Higher Diploma in Education, a masters degree in sociology from the then University of Port Elizabeth and a PHD in organisational management from NMMU.
He spent 26 years as an educator at Chapman High School, working his way up to being headmaster from 1998 until he left the school in 2006.
From there he headed the ETC and, in 2012, he started a company, Symposia (Pty), as a subsidiary of the ETC Group to commercialise business opportunities such as conferencing, catering, corporate training and motor vehicle repairs.
His work in higher education has largely been recognised with numerous awards, including a national one for outstanding leadership in private tertiary education in 2009.
Speaking at the business breakfast, Border-Kei Chamber of Business director Les Holbrook said without courageous leadership, South Africa will remain unchanged.
“NMMU leads by a long way. They are a good school with good teachers. Their business school is case and point of this.” timesmedia.co.za