GIBS boosts its academic offering with two new programmes

University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) has added two new programmes to their academic offering – a full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) for undergraduate students, as well as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in International Business.

The full-time PDBA which aims to fast-track recent university graduates into the world of business, is specially designed for young undergraduates looking to build their business acumen and etiquette and hit the ground running once employed. This programme, which will be delivered over 12 months focuses on experiential learning through real business cases, experience and is designed to keep up with industry practice.

Employees are now expected handle functions in various disciplines in the business world, the PDBA aims to equip learners with the right tools in key organisational functions such as: human resources, marketing, finance, operations management and entrepreneurship. Through a combination of classroom lectures, case studies, business simulations, business field trips and syndicate projects, graduates will gain immediate insight into the business world.

GIBS Dean, Professor Nicola Kleyn, said, “Employees are now expected to handle various disciplines in organisations, the two programmes are designed to equip learners with the right tools to fulfil their roles in the business world.”

Through a multi-faceted approach, the PDBA is able to gear students up for the working environment. The programme gives students the opportunity to develop interpersonal and problem-solving skills, to manage risks and uncertainty, and gain analytical and financial expertise in a versatile business environment. “We have added this aspect of the PDBA because we want to equip graduates with the right skills to help accelerate their access to and progress in the workplace,” she added.

The MPhil in International Business is an NQF Level 9 master’s degree that aims to equip participants with the global business strategy skills needed to understand the challenges and grasp the opportunities that the global business environment offers. It is a specialised degree that aims to enable students to transform from traditional business managers into global business leaders who understand the complexities of managing in a global society. This focused master’s programme consists of a combination of core courses, a variety of tailored electives – taught by experienced local and international faculty – and an in-depth research component focused on an area of international business.

Said Kleyn, “The MPhil is for managers and leaders who want to learn more about managing in a globalised world. The programme comprises an intense research component that will help students understand challenges and complexities that are relevant to managers conducting business across borders.”

These two new programmes join a repertoire of offerings from GIBS which include the flagship highly ranked Executive MBA, the only African business school featured in the prestigious Financial Times Executive MBA Rankings for 2017.