The GSB Edge

The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB) is recognised as one of the best business schools in the world. Its innovative approaches to teaching and learning and commitment to relevance and social impact set it apart from most.

In 2011 the GSB was voted by Eduniversal as the top business school in Africa in terms of influence for the fourth year running (www.eduniversal.com) and was rated above all other business schools in South Africa in the 2012 QS 200 Business Schools Report. The school also performs strongly in the Financial Times rankings. Its full-time MBA is the only one in Africa to be listed in the top 100 MBAs and its Executive Education arm is ranked in the top 100.

One of just two business schools in South Africa to be EQUIS accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development, in 2012 the school also received AMBA accreditation for both its full-time MBA and its Executive MBA, taking it closer to being one of only a few triple crowned business schools in the world.

EMERGING ECONOMY EXPERTISE

With its roots in Africa, the GSB tests traditional business thinking in an emerging market context. It is seeking to build a new model of a business school that embraces values-based leadership, positive social impact and emerging market thinking.

Most business schools develop academic strength via a few strong disciplinary faculty groups (finance, marketing, etc). The GSB is focusing instead on the trans-disciplinary theme of emerging market business, incorporating governance in emerging economies; development; innovation and technology; social innovation and entrepreneurship and sustainable business; diversity; dynamics and culture; and infrastructure, reform and regulation.

FULL COLOR THINKING

The GSB believes that "business as usual" is no longer the way to achieve sustainable success. Managers need an expanded skill set that creates new models of business and the school sees itself as an enabler of these new ways of thinking and behaving.

It challenges taken-for-granted assumptions and practices, and cultivate in managers an ability to draw from a full spectrum of disciplines and cultures: to think in full-colour.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Academic rigour, societal relevance and innovation in teaching are the three pillars of excellence upon which the GSB is built.

With a world-class research track record and a strong full-time faculty, the school is recognised internationally for its holistic and integrative teaching style, which is based on the application of systems thinking and action learning (SysTAL) and geared towards accellerating learning in adults.

Its strong PhD programme and vibrant culture of debate contributes to making the school a thought leader in the region and internationally. The Social Innovation Speakers Series and the Distinguished Speakers Programme are used as a platform for presenting these new ideas to the public.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Recognising that a business school cannot live outside its economic environment, and the GSB is committed to transformation and equality through initiatives like the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development, the Social Innovation Speaker Series and the Net Impact Chapter.

The Bertha Centre aims to instil in managers and young leaders the insights and capabilities to build better organisations that have a positive social and environmental impact in emerging markets. It drives dialogue that promotes and emboldens agents for social and environmental change. The centre invests in the next generation of social innovators through practical, rigorous teaching, exposure and debate; and a focus on applying new research to the immediate challenges to Africa's social and economic future.