Free ride is over, says new dean
After years of introspection, is the University of KwaZulu Natal’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSBL) finally ready to look outwards at the broader education environment?
While other SA university schools have spread their tentacles across SA, Africa and even into Asia, the GSBL has spent the past 10 years focused on its immediate geographical KZN surrounds. It has not been aggressive, however, and schools based elsewhere have found the province fertile ground for executive education and MBA students.
Frik Landman, executive development CEO at Stellenbosch University’s business school, says his division has almost doubled revenue targets since opening an office in Durban last year. Two privately owned schools in Durban city centre, Mancosa and Regent, are also active.
But now Theuns Pelser, who recently left North West University’s Mafikeng business school to become the GSBL’s new dean, says the free ride for competitors is over. Though he says the school will always offer KZN clients “real issues that are part and parcel of the region”, he adds, “We have to stop looking inward and position ourselves as a national school. Beyond that, I want us to be seen as a top school with an African flavour.”
Pelser replaced Stephen Migiro, who remains at the school as an academic.
More than any other state university school, the GSBL has struggled to create a strong identity since university mergers and academic accreditations transformed the business schools landscape over a decade ago. However, long-time lecturer Mihalis Chasomeris says change has begun, thanks to improved relationships with the university, new school management and a number of academic appointments. MBA student numbers have almost doubled since last year. “What I’m seeing is extremely encouraging.”
At times, it has seemed the university has not known quite what to make of its business school. Now Pelser says university vice-chancellor Albert van Jaarsveld, who took office this year, wants the school to become a university flagship. “Business schools are more than faculty departments,” says Pelser. “They need independence to build their own brands. In the past, we haven’t been able to do that. Now we have buy-in from the university administration.”
Among the changes he wants to see is for the GSBL to regain full control of executive education, currently managed by another university unit. As a result, the school is not as close to the business community as it should be. Market research for this Cover Story reveals frighteningly low recognition of the school brand among SA employers.
At the moment, all classroom teaching takes place at the school’s Westville campus. Pelser wants to take it to other centres.
“We need to reach out more to the business community, not just in KZN but also nationally,” he says.