The GSB is no ordinary business school. Although small by international standards, it wields a reputation for innovation and excellence that has helped it to take its place amongst the very best in the world.

In 2009 it was voted by Eduniversal as the top business school in Africa in terms of influence for the second year running (www.eduniversal.com). The GSB is one of just two business schools in South Africa to be accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development, the recognised centre of excellence in its field in Europe. The School’s full-time MBA programme is also the only African one to be ranked by the prestigious Financial Times Global Top 100 MBAs.

EMERGENT ECONOMY EXPERTISE

With its roots in Africa, the GSB’s goal is to be a leading emergent market business school that is both relevant and excellent. The School is committed to building a new model of a business school – one that is grounded in values and based on the paradigm of the emergent market.

The GSB defines emergent as regions (or organisations) that experience conditions of high uncertainty, high complexity, and often excessive inequality. This new paradigm is relevant not only for so-called emergent countries or regions, but equally for companies operating in or encountering these conditions. Currently, such companies can be found anywhere in the world. The School is dedicated to equipping leaders and managers operating in such contexts with the relevant skills and know-how to be effective.

PILLARS OF EXCELLENCE

The GSB’s competitive edge is built around three pillars of excellence:

Academic Excellence
While most business schools develop academic strength via a few strong disciplinary faculty groups (finance, marketing, strategy etc.), the GSB is developing its academic excellence in the trans-disciplinary theme of Emergent Market Business. The systemic research themes are: Governance in Emergent Economies; Development; Innovation & Technology; Entrepreneurial Development & Sustainable Business; Diversity; Dynamics & Culture; Infrastructure, Reform and Regulation.

Societal Relevance
A business school cannot live outside its economic environment and has to take up its own societal responsibility. The GSB is committed to transformation and equality in all its aspects. Initiatives like the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development and the Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, as well as student activities all contribute to the School’s societal relevance.

Pedagogical Excellence
The GSB has developed teaching excellence through its application of SYSTAL (Systems Thinking Action Learning). Innovations in the areas of transformative learning and personal development are integrated into the curricula of many of the programmes. These learning processes are globally recognised as being at the vanguard of management education.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

The GSB provides genuine thought leadership, not only in South Africa, but also in the wider African continent, as well as the BRICSA countries. This thought leadership is demonstrated to business and society through strong activity in executive education, customised academic learning and a robust culture of debate. The newly launched GSB PhD programme is growing a pool of home-grown African talent that will invigorate the School’s thought leadership in the region.

GSB VALUES

The GSB is a values-driven organisation and one of the few business schools in the world to have a clearly defined set of values. These encapsulate the School’s aspirations and the commitments it makes to everyone with a stake in the business school.

Core UCT GSB values

We are passionate about learning.
Our core purpose is to create opportunities for our students, course delegates and employees to develop and grow through, all the while acknowledging the need to address the inheritance of inequality in our society.

We encourage a spirit of innovation and inquiry.
We provide opportunities to create and innovate, committing to the belief that different ideas foster positive change and progress.

We strive to enable personal growth and development.
We share ideas, learn from one another, work to build team and personal relationships, resolve conflict, and encourage the expression of opinion in the workplace.

We take pride in our work at the UCT GSB.
Delegates are encouraged to express and exercise their individual talents, thereby taking partial responsibility for helping the GSB achieve its vision and goals.

We believe in a supportive UCT GSB community.
We recognise the participation and contribution of our stakeholders in sharing the GSB vision and reaching our goals.

We accept responsibility to act ethically with professional integrity.
We live by equality and firmly believe in treating each person fairly and with respect.