Business Education in Africa

Eon Smit

USB

Diversity Measures

Size 30 million km2

20,4% of land area

Population size 900 million14% of world population

Countries 61

Currencies 44

Official languages 26

Area distribution 20 – 2,5 million km2

Population distribution 4,250 – 133 million

GDP per capita distribution $600 - $50,200

Global Reality Characterisation Educational implication

Multi-polar world order

• Lack of coherence and leadership• Interdependence

• New generation leaders• Global focus• Skills integration

Demographic imbalances

• Political tensions• Geographical instability

• Dispute settlement• Sustainable development• Social responsibility

Environmental imbalances

• Global warming• Resource depletion• Pandemics

• Sustainable environments

New economy convergence

• Knowledge worker• Mobile labour force

• Impart useful skills• Practical up-skilling• Instil entrepreneurial skills

Crisis in values • Corporate disasters• Political corruption

• Sustainable business• Corporate governance• Ethics

Educational implication for global realities

Importance of Management Education

Create absorptive capacity Form basis of economic growth Support NGO sector Support creation of micro, small &

medium enterprises Prevent brain-drain Build leadership capacity

Business schools losing their way

• Should be focusing on the requirements of a profession

• Fail in imparting useful skills• Fail to instil norms of ethical behaviours• Fail to lead graduates to good corporate jobs

or to instil entrepreneurial skills• Fail to appoint people with practical experience• Fail to research real-world problems• Fail to integrate functional skills• Fail to develop business leaders

Possible future directions• Globalisation• Skills integration (multi-skills)• Knowledge, skills, attitudes, values• Leadership focus• Complexity• Personal development• Professionalise • Coaching • Dispute Settlement• Passion and initiative